In this article, we discuss how assignments form the solid foundation of timesheets, as they provide the framework from which timesheets originate. We've introduced a "quick create" feature to streamline the assignment creation process, thereby expediting workflow efficiency.
This applies to a user with an administrator or manager role who are responsible for creating assignments.
Creating an assignment outlines a set of rules that multiple workers can use for their timesheets. These rules include:
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Approving Manager, who receives submitted timesheets
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Pay, Charge & Agency Rates
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Working Hours
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Invoicing
You can create a new assignment each time you need a new set of rules for timesheets. As an assignment will determine the approval, payment, and invoicing for several timesheets, we need the assignments to be set up accurately.
To create a new assignment, navigate to: Timesheets → Assignments
Click ‘New Assignment’ in the top right-hand corner.
Host
The quick create window will appear. Instead of selecting an engagement, users must choose from a list of host companies. Subsequently, this action automatically fills the engagement field with engagements linked to the selected host company. The worker, start date and end date fields are still disabled at this point. If the host only has one engagement it is automatically selected
Engagement
We emphasize the significance of engagement in defining the roles within a relationship. Each candidate or assignment should adhere to these engagements to guarantee accurate invoicing. Activation of the worker field should occur only after selecting an engagement, this should also applied to the start date and end date fields, alongside making the assignment details fields visible.
Worker
Select the worker that the assignment is going to be based on, assignments are worker-specific requirements. If you do not have any employees within the system you will need to complete this prior to being able to save an assignment. The user should be able to set the start date as it is mandatory and end date can be optional. If an end date is not selected then the assignment is automatically set to “ongoing” as this can be assumed.
Rate Template
Once the worker, start date and (optionally) end date are set the assignment details section is revealed. This allows the user to select a desired rate template and set the rates. If Admin Companies is enabled, the “Agency Rate” field will be shown, otherwise it is hidden.
Timesheet schedule and Timesheet format
Both fields are required for the user to select the desired timesheet scheduled and timesheet format for the assignment.
Primary and Secondary timesheet approver
The user then selects the primary timesheet approver (mandatory) and optionally a secondary timesheet approver.
After filling out the form entirely and validating it by clicking the Create button, the assignment will be generated, and the user will be redirected to the assignment detail screen.
Customise Assignment
Next to the “Assignment details” heading is a link labelled “Customise Assignment”. When clicked, this should redirect the user to the full assignment create screen and automatically pre-fill any of the values already provided by the user in this modal.
The following items are non-mandatory fields but can have a large benefit when included, depending on your needs:
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Assignment no: This is mainly for reporting purposes, if you would like to keep track of the assignment being created each week for example you would include your specific numbering sequence. If an ATS is in play the ID number from the ATS system will populate here.
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PO Number: Purchase Order Numbers can be applied on an individual basis if this field is used, therefore the workers all linked to the same PO number in their assignment can be grouped together on an invoice.
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Assignment name: This is mainly for reporting purposes or used as an easy reference within the assignment summary screen. When you are in the timesheet section it is an easy reference to what assignment the timesheet is linked to.
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Consultant: This is highly beneficial if you are needing to separate your consultant margins on your margin reporting for each worker they are looking after. This consultant name will be applied to each assignment they are responsible for and this will appear as a column on the margin report.
Start date and End date
The assignment start date is mandatory as we need a starting point for when the timesheets can start being created for the assignment. The end date is optional. If left unselected, the assignment is automatically designated as "ongoing," as this assumption can be made.
All of the following items are mandatory fields. Some items will be populated from a payroll integration which should be set up beforehand.
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Pay schedule: This is pulled from the payroll system you are integrating with so whatever options you have set up in the payroll system is what you will need to choose between, depending upon where you need the worker to pull into to when it comes to the payroll batch.
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Job title: This is an open text field which needs to be included as this is mentioned on the invoice next to the candidate's name.
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Job type: How has this employee been engaged is what the job type is referring to: Full-Time, Part-Time or Casual.
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Timesheet frequency: This option is referring to what sort of timesheet are you needing the employee to complete: Weekly, Fortnightly or Monthly. For example, if Monthly is selected the timesheet will include all days on one timesheet for the entire month.
Once the above mandatory steps have been completed we are able to move onto the optional steps below.
For these items, you would only complete if you need to have the invoice generation impacted by certain assignments. If you have a difference in invoice frequency for either host or agency invoices for this one worker you would then make the selected, choosing one of the following:
- Weekly
- Fortnightly
- Monthly
- Four Weekly
- Last Friday of the Month
- Calendar Monthly
- 4-4-5
Allowance rounding
The options we have when it comes to paying allowances out are determined on what you select in this area and how you would like these to either be rounded or if you would like these to be paid and charged out at the actual units. If this is not something that is applied to this assignment you can disregard.
Timesheet Options
Basic: This is a simple start time and end time timesheets (breaks if turned on) with the days outlined specific to your pay and timesheet schedule.
Per-day timesheet: This timesheet is based on days worked rather than hours.
Multiple jobs per day: This timesheet gives the candidate the ability to include multiple lines against one day of work.
Fixed units: The fixed option gives you the ability to include a timesheet for a salaried employee, for example, that does the same hours each week, therefore, does not need to enter this manually. However, fixed units still give the candidate the flexibility to submit other items.
The following items are yes/no options which can be toggled on or off according to your preference.
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Can enter break times
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Can enter job description
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Can submit expense claim on timesheets
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Include expenses in invoices to agency
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Do you wish to use the manual timesheet?
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Disable timesheet generation
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Do you wish to pay employees for their timesheets?
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Do you wish to invoice timesheets?
Approvers
We have the option of selecting either a primary, secondary or both approvers. From here you are able to apply certain rules around who should be approving first if both managers are to have the timesheet approved and so on. If you do not need your timesheets going through to approvers than we also have the option to select ‘Automatic Approval’ this will then hide the approvers and once the timesheet is submitted will be automatically approved.
Notifications
We have the option to toggle between having notifications on or off to ‘approvers and payroll processors’ and ‘employees’. This refers to notifications about timesheets and whether you would like these notifications to go out automatically or not.
Select Pay and Charge Rates
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The pay and charge rates are to be driven by the rate templates that have been created.
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Once the rate templates are created you can head into the assignment and ‘Select Rate template’. From here you will view a drop-down list to select which rate template relates to this candidate.
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You will need to input the base rates for the relevant fields which will be populated by either a percentage or a currency amount; this will depend upon how you have chosen to set up your rate templates. Once completed and saved, the rules outlined in the template and the currency amounts you have included will be multiplied by the base rates incorporated and populated.
At any stage, once you have imported the rate templates, you can edit any of the pay categories or rules if there is a slight variation for whatever reason.
When you are happy with the rates and the rules you are then able to save the assignment, this will then automatically create timesheets based on what you have outlined within the assignment and will appear in your summary screen.