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Scheduling Setup: Call Shift Settings

Purpose Statement

The Call Shift Settings feature allows administrators to configure and customize how call shifts are managed within the scheduling module. This centralized configuration ensures consistent call shift operations across your department while providing flexibility to adapt to your specific operational needs and policies.

Background Information

Call Shift Settings serve as the control center for all call shift-related configurations in your First Due. These settings determine how call shifts are awarded, deadlines for responses, and various other operational parameters. Proper configuration of these settings is essential for efficient call shift management and fair distribution of overtime opportunities among personnel.

Common use cases include configuring candidate method operations, setting up manual charging capabilities, establishing default deadlines and start times, and controlling visibility of personnel information during the call shift process.

Required Permissions

  1. Access Scheduling
  2. Access Setup

Video

Step-by-Step Guide

Accessing Call Shift Settings

• Navigate to Scheduling Setup from the main menu • Click on Call Shift Rules from the setup options • Select Settings to access the configuration panel
 


 
 
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Available Configuration Options

  1. Candidate Method Toggle: Enable or disable the candidate method for call shift operations 
  2. Allow Manual Charging: Toggle the ability to manually charge call shifts to personnel
    1. When enabled, allows administrators to manually award hours to one or multiple individuals 
  3. Only Charge Once Per Day: Limit ranking adjustments to once daily regardless of multiple call shift acceptances
  4. Charge by Work Type: Will only charge the individual if the Call Shift Work Type is counted towards Call Shift Ranking
  5. Allow all the users to be manually included: Enable the ability to include/exclude employees who don't hold specific required qualifiers
  6. Allow Additional Awarding of candidates: Permit awarding call shifts to additional personnel when needed
  7. Show Phone Number on Ranking Page: Display personnel phone numbers on the call shift ranking interface 
  8. Show Qualifiers in Call Shift Details: Control visibility of qualifiers when viewing call shift details
  9. Rotate when the day of the shift arrives: When enabled, if the Move Order By rule is set to Last Date Worked, the user will rotate to the bottom of the list on the day of the shift.
     

 

 

 
  1. Default Wait Time: Set standard time users will have before the call shift moves onto the next person
  2. Users can only accept during their wait time: Users are only allowed to accept during their Wait Time period
     

 

 
  1. Default Deadline Configuration: Set standard response deadlines using one of three options:
    1. Start of Shift
    2. X Hours/Minutes before Shift
    3. X Hours/Minutes after Call Shift starts (sent out) 
       
  2. Default Start Time: Establish a standard start time for call shifts 
  3. Default Call Shift Work Type: Set the standard work type classification 
  4. Auto Hired if Signed Up: Toggle automatic hiring when personnel sign up for shift

 

 

 

Candidate Method Specific Settings

When the Candidate Method is enabled, additional options become available:

  1. Only Allow For Manual Awarding: When enabled, prevents automatic call shift awarding at deadline, requiring administrator intervention for award decisions 
  2. Only Charge Above Accepting Users: Available when Manual Charging is selected, allows charging personnel above the last accepting user in the ranking
     
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Tip:

Wait Time settings are not available when using the Candidate Method.

 

Saving Configuration Changes

  1. Review all selected settings to ensure they align with department policies
  2. Click Save to apply all configuration changes 
  3. Settings will take effect immediately for new call shifts
     

Best Practices

  1. Regularly review call shift settings to ensure they align with current department policies and operational needs
  2. Test new configurations with a small group before implementing department-wide 
  3. Document any custom settings and their rationale for future reference 
  4. Consider seasonal or operational changes that may require settings adjustments 
  5. Ensure all administrators understand the implications of each setting before making changes 
  6. Use the manual charging feature judiciously to maintain fairness in call shift distribution 
  7. Set realistic deadlines that allow adequate response time while meeting operational requirements
     

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Why don't I see the Wait Time option when I enable Candidate Method? 

      A: Wait Time is not compatible with the Candidate Method and will automatically be hidden when Candidate Method is enabled.
 

Q: What happens if I enable "Only Charge Once Per Day"? 
      A: Personnel will only receive one ranking adjustment per day, even if they accept or decline multiple call shifts within the same 24-hour period.
 

Q: Can I award a call shift to someone who doesn't have the required qualifications? 

      A: Yes, if you enable "Allow all users to be manually included," you can include personnel who don't hold the specific qualifiers requested for that call shift.
 

Q: How does "Only Allow For Manual Awarding" affect call shift operations? 
       A: When enabled, call shifts will not be automatically awarded at the deadline. An administrator must manually review candidates and award the shift.
 

Q: What's the difference between manual charging and manual awarding? 

      A: Manual charging allows you to assign penalty hours to personnel, while manual awarding lets you assign the actual call shift to selected candidates.
 

Related Articles

  1. Call Shift Notification Options