To define a new break group, go to Configuration - Break Groups, click and fill in the following fields:
New/Edit break group window in Astrow Web
Name: Full name of the break group; this name appears in the selection list in the day program.
Break type: Defines the type of break to be applied.
Zone break: If you select this option, you can define the break zone in which the break can be taken, e.g. the break zone is from 12:00 to 14:00 and the break time is 00:30. In this case the employee can take one half an hour break whenever within the 2 hours without any anomalies generated. The break zone is defined in the day program, see Tab Break/Round - Link Break and Rounding Groups and Set Time Revisions to a Day Program, for further instructions.
The same break group can be used for different day programs with different break zones. The employees will clock IN and OUT a break within a break zone. If they do not clock at all or the period between bookings is less than the break time defined, the break time set (for more information see below) will be automatically deducted. You can also take punitive measures when employees do not clock (see below If lunch break not clocked, subtract complete break zone).
Paid: Check this box if the break is paid, even when an IN and an OUT booking for this break have been registered. This will take only the break time.
If lunch break not clocked, subtract complete break zone: This is used as a penalty for employees that do not clock during their break. Basically, employees should always clock within a break zone, as this is the only way to calculate the real break times. If they fail to do so, the complete break zone (as determined in the day program) will be subtracted. This obligation is very useful to get a more disciplined booking behaviour and consequently a smaller amount of corrections to be made. This function is only available for a regular unpaid break, not for a paid break!
Break counter: In case of a zone break, you can link a counter to this break. This way you will have an overview of the actual break times.
Automatic break: This option is to automatically deduct the break time (unpaid) without clocking.
Granted if …: This option enables the user to specify the number of hours that have to be achieved before a break is granted. This achievement depends on the set conditions:
Achievement >= 00:00: enter a number of hours to be achieved before the break is granted.
Achievement >= Normtime: the break is only granted if the norm time has been achieved.
Achievement >= Normtime /2: the break is only granted if half of the norm time has been achieved.
These breaks can be linked to different day programs, each with a different norm time.
Break time: These are the number of hours and minutes granted as a break. This value will be deducted from the achieved regular hours during that day. If the actual break does not exceed this value, the entire break time will be deducted. However, if the actual break does exceed this value, the actual break is deducted from the achieved hours.
Force subtract break time: Breaks can force subtract a custom time from the effective after Achievement has been accomplished. This option is only available when using Automatic break.
Example of break group definition with force subtract in Astrow Web
How Force subtract break time works:
If Achievement is fulfilled more than once, then also subtraction will repeat.
If worked hours are bigger than achievement and no break was taken, then a minimum amount will be subtracted from the effective, based on Break time and time above Achievement.
if the employee worked 06:29 minutes, then subtracted time will be 00:29;
if the employee worked 06:31 minutes, then subtracted time will be 00:30.
If worked hours are bigger than Achievement and the break is less than Break time, then the remnant will be subtracted.
if the employee worked 06:29 minutes and a 00:15 minutes break was taken, then subtracted time will be 00:14
If worked hours are bigger than Achievement and a break bigger or equal to Break time was taken, then no break will be subtracted.
If the entire worked hours are less than Achievement, then no break will be subtracted.
If accumulated worked hours (sum of all worked hours even if odd bookings break them) are bigger than Achievement and a break less than Break time was taken, then the remnant will be subtracted.
if the employee worked 06:29 minutes and a 00:15 minutes break was taken, then subtracted time will be 00:14.
To count the subtracted break, you can define a T counter and use Extra break in Configuration - Counters Operations.
Example of setting in Day Program for a break group definition that uses the break zone instead of the core time in Astrow Web
Please note that option Use core zone instead the core time does not work with Paid or If lunch break not clocked, subtract complete break zone. Therefore, these options should remain unchecked. Only Zone break option should be checked:
and fill in the following fields:
