The Call Shift Hours Settings feature allows administrators to control how call shift hours are calculated, assigned, and tracked within the scheduling system. This configuration determines when hours are credited to personnel rankings lists and provides flexibility in managing different qualifier types and their associated hour values. By properly configuring these settings, departments can ensure fair and accurate distribution of call shift assignments based on established operational rules.
Call shift hours tracking is a critical component of fair scheduling practices in fire and EMS departments. The Hours Settings feature provides granular control over when hours are assigned (either when scheduled or when worked), how they accumulate over time, and how different qualifier types (certifications, positions, apparatus assignments) affect hour calculations. This configuration directly impacts ranking lists used for automatic call shift assignments, ensuring that personnel with fewer accumulated hours receive priority for future shifts. The system supports both fixed hour amounts and range-based calculations, accommodating various departmental policies and union agreements. Proper configuration of these settings is essential before implementing automated call shift scheduling to prevent inequitable distribution of additional work opportunities.
To configure Call Shift Hours Settings, users must have:
Navigate to Scheduling in the main navigation menu.
Select Setup from the Scheduling submenu.
Click on Call Shift Rules in the Setup options.
Select Hours Settings to access the configuration panel.
In the Hours Settings panel, review the "Call Shift Hours" section. You have two options:
Option A: The Day Off
Option B: When Added

Determine whether to enable "Keep counting from previous qualifiers":
Click the Add Time Rule button to create a new hour calculation rule.
In the Time Rule configuration window, select the Call Shift Rule that will be affected by this configuration.
Configure the Real Hours setting:
Fixed Hours Option:
Range Option:
Set the Charged Amount:
Click Save to activate the time rule.
Repeat steps 7-11 to create additional time rules for other Call Shift Rules as needed.
Configuration Strategy:
Time Rule Design:
Charged Amount Considerations:
Ranking Fairness:
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Q: Hours aren't being assigned to personnel rankings lists. What's wrong?
A: Verify that: (1) You've created at least one time rule with appropriate qualifiers, (2) The affected personnel actually have the qualifiers specified in your time rules, (3) You've selected either "Day Off" or "When Added" for hour assignment timing. If all these are correct, check that the personnel have permission to view and be assigned to call shifts.
Q: What's the difference between Real Hours and Charged Amount?
A: Real Hours represents the actual duration of the shift or assignment. Charged Amount is the value adjusted on the ranking list. These are often the same, but may differ if your department has policies to weight certain types of shifts differently (e.g., charging less for training shifts to encourage participation).
Q: Can I have different charged amounts for the same qualifier based on shift length?
A: Not directly. Each qualifier can have one time rule. If you need different hour treatments, create separate qualifiers (e.g., "12-Hour Call Shift" vs. "24-Hour Call Shift") and assign them accordingly when creating shifts.
Q: What happens if a person has multiple qualifiers that all have time rules?
A: The system will apply the time rule associated with the qualifier specifically assigned to that call shift position. When creating a call shift, you select which qualifier is required—that qualifier's time rule determines the hour calculation.
Q: Should I enable "Keep counting from previous qualifiers"?
A: Enable this if you want continuous hour tracking regardless of qualification changes. This prevents someone from resetting their hour count by gaining a new certification. Disable this if you want to give preference to newly qualified personnel for specific assignments by starting their count fresh.
Q: Rankings aren't updating correctly after configuring time rules. What should I check?
A: Time rules only affect future assignments. Check: (1) Whether you're using "Day Off" assignment (hours won't appear until the shift date), (2) If personnel actually worked or were added to shifts after the time rule was created, (3) That the qualifier on the time rule matches the qualifier assigned to the shift position.
Q: Can I modify time rules after they've been in use?
A: Yes, but changes only affect future shift assignments. Previously accumulated hours based on the old rule will not be recalculated. If you need to adjust historical data, contact your system administrator to discuss manual adjustment options.