From Definitiv version 3.12, rules or options have been added to rules within the standard Award Rules processor to better support scenarios related to broken and split shifts.
To find out how to first group timesheets into broken and split shifts, see our Award Grouping Rules article.
New "Shift is Broken" Rule
The new "Shift is Broken" IF rule can have multiple purposes, including;
Identifying whether the shift meets the definition of a broken shift.
Determining different non-worked times within a broken shift.
The above rule confirms that if there is a gap or non-worked period greater than 30 minutes within the shift, it is to be classed as a broken shift for the succeeding rules.
The name of this new rule can be misleading. If you use the rule to identify the scenario of any shifts with gaps less than or equal to 0.5 hours, then it would pick up the following;
A standard shift based on a single timesheet.
A grouped shift based on timesheets that have less than or equal to 30 minutes between the finish time of one and the start time of the next timesheet within the shift.
How it Works
This new rule can have different applications to define scenarios specific to broken or split shifts. For example, it could be used to define overtime rules once the broken shift has surpassed 12 hours.
Another way it could be used is to manage the split shift allowance as per clause 26.14 in the HIGA Award;
26.14 Split shift allowance
Clause 26.14 applies to any full-time or part-time employee who works split shifts on any day.
The employer must pay the employee an allowance of:
$3.28 per day where the period between shifts is between 2 and 3 hours; and
$4.98 per day where the period between shifts is more than 3 hours.
In the above example, the split shift allowance differs based on the gap between the times worked.
The below grouping showcases how the HIGA split shift allowance rule can be managed using the new Shift is Broken rule.
If you are not using the award grouping rules to group timesheets, the above scenario can still be addressed with the Time Since Previous Shift rule.
Other Enhancements
Time in Period Rule Updates
1. Per Shift Logic Update
The “per shift” option in the Time in Period rule has been updated to now consider the whole grouped shift.
2. New Elapsed Hours
The Time in Period rule has been updated to include a new option called “Elapsed Hours”.
Elapsed Hours vs Specified Hours
Elapsed Hours - Looks at hours from the start time of the first timesheet and the finish of the last timesheet in the grouped shift.
Specified Hours - Looks at worked hours only.
Elapsed Hours Options
The additional options mentioned in the table below are made available in the Time in Period rule if the following is selected;
Elapsed Hours; and
One of the below qualifiers;
Between; or
Greater than
“Apply Max” on Add Tag Rule Updates
The “Apply Max” checkbox in the Add Tag rule has been updated to capture the following scenarios;
1. New: Day (Midnight to Midnight)
This allows you to apply the rule only to the hours up to midnight if the shift spans midnight.
2. Updated: Shift
The concept of "Shift" will now apply to the whole merged or grouped shift.