Purpose Statement
Work Limit Violations allow organizations to identify when personnel exceed configured work limits while managing assignments on the Shift Board. The system provides warnings, identifies active violations, and allows authorized users to override restrictions when necessary. This helps organizations monitor staffing limits while maintaining flexibility when filling vacancies.
Background Information
Work Limit Violations are configured within the Setup section of the Scheduling module and are monitored through the Shift Board.
When an individual is selected to fill a vacancy, the system evaluates the assignment against configured work limits. If the assignment would exceed a limit, the system may require an override before the individual can be assigned.
For example, an organization may establish a maximum of 48 hours on a medic unit. If assigning an individual would result in 72 projected hours, the system displays a Medic Hours Warning and requires an override to proceed.
The Shift Board also includes a Violations tab where users can review active and overridden violations.
Two violation scenarios are demonstrated:
- Projected Violation: A proposed assignment would cause an individual to exceed a configured work limit.
- Active Violation: An individual has already reached or exceeded a configured work limit during a specified period.
Authorized users can enter an override reason to proceed with an assignment or override an existing violation.
Required Permissions
The following permissions were identified in the Scheduling permission list.
Module and Shift Board Access
- Access Scheduling — Allows users to access the Scheduling module.
- Access Shift Board — Allows users to access the Shift Board.
- Add/edit personnel into shift board — Allows users to add or edit personnel assignments on the Shift Board.
Viewing and Managing Violations
- Scheduling - Timeframe Rules - View Violations — Required to view work limit violations.
- Scheduling - Timeframe Rules - Override Soft Warning — Required to override work limit warnings.
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
Accessing Work Limit Violations
Navigate to the Shift Board
- Click the First Due logo.
- Select Scheduling.
- Click Shift Board.
- Locate the assignment or vacancy you want to manage.
Overriding a Projected Work Limit Violation
Select an Individual for a Vacancy
- Locate the vacancy on the Shift Board.
- Select the individual you want to place into the vacancy.
- If the assignment would exceed a configured work limit, the system displays a warning requiring an override.
Review the Work Limit Warning
- Review the warning associated with the proposed assignment.
Identify the configured work limit and projected hours.
Example:
- Violation Type: Medic Hours Warning
- Configured Maximum: 48 hours
- Projected Hours: 72 hours
- Projected Overage: 24 hours
Enter an Override Reason
- Locate the override reason field.
- Enter a reason explaining why the assignment should proceed despite exceeding the configured work limit.
- Review the assignment before proceeding.
Apply the Override
- Click Override.
- The system places the individual into the selected vacancy.
- The overridden violation becomes available for review under the Violations tab.
Reviewing Active Work Limit Violations
Open the Violations Tab
- From the Shift Board, select Violations.
- Review the listed violations.
- Identify any active or previously overridden violations.
Review an Active Violation
- Locate the violation you want to review.
Review the affected individual, violation period, and hours exceeding the configured limit.
Example:
- Violation Period: October 10–12
- Hours Over Limit: 24 hours
- Violation Status: Active
Overriding an Active Violation
Select the Override Option
- Locate the active violation within the Violations tab.
- Click Override.
Enter the Override Reason
- Enter a reason for overriding the active violation.
- Confirm that the appropriate violation has been selected.
Save the Override
- Click Override.
- The system updates the violation information to reflect the override.
Best Practices
- Review projected hours: Compare the configured work limit against the projected hours before approving an override.
- Document override reasons: Provide a clear explanation for each override.
- Monitor active violations: Review the Violations tab regularly to identify personnel who have exceeded configured limits.
- Verify assignments: Use the option to jump to an affected day to review the assignment associated with a violation.
- Use overrides deliberately: Apply overrides only when operationally necessary and permitted by organizational policy.
- Maintain appropriate access: Limit override capabilities to personnel authorized to manage scheduling exceptions.
- Follow organizational policies: An override within the software should not be treated as authorization to disregard applicable staffing, fatigue, or work-hour policies.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Q: Why does the system require an override when assigning someone to a vacancy?
A: The proposed assignment would exceed a configured work limit. The system displays a warning and requires an override before the assignment can proceed.
Q: What information is displayed in a projected work limit warning?
A: The warning identifies the applicable work limit and projected hours. For example, a Medic Hours Warning may indicate that a proposed assignment would result in 72 hours against a configured 48-hour maximum.
Q: Can I still assign someone who exceeds a configured work limit?
A: Yes, when the override option is available and you are authorized to use it. Enter an override reason and click Override to proceed.
Q: Where can I review work limit violations?
A: Navigate to Scheduling → Shift Board → Violations.
Q: What is the difference between a projected violation and an active violation?
A: A projected violation occurs when a proposed assignment would exceed a configured limit. An active violation identifies an individual who has already reached or exceeded a configured work limit.
Q: Can I review the day associated with an active violation?
A: Yes. The Violations tab provides an option to jump to the affected day on the Shift Board.
Q: How do I override an existing active violation?
A: Open the Violations tab, locate the active violation, select Override, enter a reason, and click Save.
Q: Where can I find violations that have already been overridden?
A: Previously overridden violations can be reviewed within the Violations tab.
Q: Why am I unable to override a work limit violation?
A: Verify that your account has the appropriate Scheduling and Shift Board permissions. The permission list includes Scheduling - Timeframe Rules - Override Soft Warning, but its specific relationship to work limit overrides has not been confirmed. Contact your system administrator if the override option is unavailable.
Q: Where are work limits configured?
A: Work limits are configured within the Setup section of the Scheduling module. Users configuring work limits need the appropriate setup access. The exact configuration path is not identified in the training transcript.