1. Creating the Main Work Hours

The backbone of factory operations is the main work hours schedule. In most cases, it runs Saturday through Thursday, from 8 AM to 4 PM. The system also allows adding break periods, a key part of workforce management.

To add the main work hours:

• Go to the Work Hours page.
• Under active work schedules, click "+ Add Work Schedule" to create a new one.
• Add the name, cost rate, start date, and end date.

"Cost rate" refers to the multiplier applied to an employee's standard rate during a given schedule. For example, if an employee's standard rate is 2 EGP per minute, and the shift's cost rate is set to 1, each minute worked during that shift costs 2 EGP. If the cost rate is raised to 1.5, the cost per minute rises to 3 EGP, as a result of multiplying the standard rate (2 EGP) by the cost rate (1.5).

Add Shift

• In the Breaks section, click the "+" button.
• Add the break start time and its duration.
  

Add Breaks

3. Indefinite Work Hours Duration

For ongoing work hours with no predetermined end date, the "Indefinite" duration option keeps the schedule active without requiring frequent updates.

To set a schedule as indefinite:

• While creating the work schedule, check the "Indefinite" checkbox to indicate there's no end date.
• Complete the rest of the schedule details and apply it.
  

4. Selecting Active Days

Customizing the active days for a work schedule lets you exclude non-working days, such as weekends or official holidays.

To select active days for a work schedule:

• While adding the work schedule, in the "Timings" section, set the start time and duration for each day.
• Check the corresponding "day off" checkboxes for the factory's weekend days.
• Save these preferences to reflect the exact work schedule.
  

Work Hours Details

5. Creating Temporary Work Schedules

Special circumstances, such as Ramadan, where a shorter work schedule is needed, may require temporary adjustments to work hours. The system accommodates these changes efficiently by creating a new schedule on the Work Hours page.

To set up a temporary work schedule:

• Select "Add Work Schedule."
• Enter the schedule times and duration, differing from the standard schedule.
• Set the specific start and end dates. (This schedule will have an end date since the end of the temporary period is already known.)

Note: Prioritizing work schedules is important in a factory with overlapping schedules that can run in parallel. The schedule order determines which one is selected first when its start time is reached in real time. For example, placing the Ramadan schedule at the top of the list means the system will automatically switch to it as the active schedule on the first day of Ramadan, even if the previous main schedule is still technically ongoing. Once Ramadan ends and its end date passes, the system reverts to the next schedule in priority order, restoring the previous main schedule as the active one.

6. Line-Specific Work Hours

Larger factories may need to stagger break times across lines — for instance, one line taking a break at 12:30 PM and another at 1 PM — so the cafeteria doesn't get overcrowded at the same time.

To set up line-specific work hours:

• Select the line that requires a unique schedule.
• Use "Add Work Schedule" for that line and add its work hours along with its break times.
• Adjust any line-specific working days if they differ from the factory standard.
• Apply these settings to create the work schedule for that line.
  

Line-Specific Work Hours

7. Managing Overtime Work Schedules

The system provides the ability to efficiently manage overtime, including setting compensation rates that reflect the extra effort put in by the workforce.

To manage an overtime work schedule:

• Mark the schedule as "Overtime" when creating a new work schedule.
• Set the overtime compensation rate, such as 1.5 for a 50% pay increase. This means workers on the overtime schedule are compensated an extra 50% on top of their regular pay for that date.
  

Overtime

8. Adding Holidays

You can add holidays to exclude them from available work hours. Click the "Add Holiday" button at the bottom of the Work Hours page in the Holidays section, and enter the holiday name along with its start and end dates.

Note: The system marks the work schedules currently active in the factory with a ✅.

Add Holidays