Summary

The Timesheets Approval batch process is used to approve or reject timesheets that have been entered using the Timesheets palette (PR> Timesheets). Once timesheets have been processed in a Timesheets Approval batch, they can be imported into a Computer Checks batch (PR> Computer Checks> Import Timesheets).

In order to use the Timesheets Approval process, your user account or the position on the employee record attached to your user account must be set up as a department clerk using the Role Maintenance window (SS> Security> Role).

When you create a Timesheets Approval batch and run the Settings step, security is added to the batch so that only users that have the same departmental security permissions can open or modify the timesheets in the batch. For example, if the role you are attached to is set up as a departmental clerk in department 001 and 002, only users that are set up as departmental clerks in both 001 and 002 can modify the timesheets in the batch. If a user is set up as a department clerk in 001 but not 002, they will not be able to open any of the steps on the palette. If the user is set up as a department clerk in departments 001, 002 and 003, they will be able to open the batch.

The Generate Timesheet Approval Batches process can be used to automate the creation process for timesheets approval batches.

Step by Step

1     Create a new Timesheets Approval batch.

• Open the Timesheets Approval window (PR> Timesheets Approval). The Batches window will display all the open Timesheets Approval batches.
• Select a batch and click DETAILS to open the selected batch.
• Select a batch and click the Delete button to delete the selected batch.
• Click the Create New Batch button to create a new batch. This will open the Create Batch window.
  • If there are open batches in the process, they will not be affected when you create a new batch. Once you select the timesheets you would like to include in the batch, they cannot be pulled into other batches and employees will no longer be able to access those timesheets on the Timesheets tool (PR> Timesheets).
• The Batch Month and Batch Year fields default to the current date and are used for reference only and do not affect which quarter or period the checks will be recorded in.
• Click CREATE to create the new Timesheets Approval batch.

2     Open the Batch Overview page.

• The Batch Overview page provides a general overview of the selected batch.
• The left navigation menu displays all the steps in the Timesheets Approval process.
• In the main section you'll see information about batch steps that are currently processing, next available batch steps, and the last completed batch step.
  • Batch steps that are currently processing will display a blue indicator bar to alert you that the step has not yet completed.
  • Once the preceding batch step is complete, the next available batch steps will be enabled and you can select the next step you would like to run.
    • While some batch steps are optional, any batch step that includes the Required tag   must be completed before the batch is allowed to proceed through to the Commit step.
• The Batch Outputs section on the right will display any reports or exports that have already been generated in the Timesheets Approval process.

3     Select the pay schedule.

• Select Settings from the Timesheets Approval menu. This will open the Settings window.
• The Settings window is used to select the pay schedule you would like to process in the batch. Only certain pay schedules will display in the Schedule drop-down menu.
  • The pay schedules will populate in the drop-down menu based on the role attached to your user account or the role attached to your HR module position.
  • Roles are created and maintained using the Role Maintenance window (SS> Security> Role).
• The system will determine which pay schedules should display in the drop-down menu using the following process:
  • Determine the roles associated with your user account.
    • Roles can be user names in two ways: directly by user name or indirectly by HR module position.
      • User names are attached directly to roles using the Role Maintenance window (SS> Security> Role> Select User in the Type drop-down> User field).
      • Users are indirectly associated with a role by attaching a user name to an employee record, attaching the employee record to a position, and then attaching the position to a role. Attaching a role to a position instead of a user name allows you to automatically update the roles of employees as they change positions.
        • User names are associated with employee records using the User Maintenance window (SS> Security> User> Employee Number field).
        • Employee records are associated with a position using the Employee Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Employee> General tab> Position field).
        • Positions are associated with a role using the Role Maintenance window (SS> Security> Role> Select Position in the Type drop-down menu> Position field).
  • Determine which departments are associated with your roles.
    • Once the system has established your roles, it will compile a list of departments in which you are set up as a department clerk. You can only approve the timesheets of employees that belong to departments where you are set up as the department clerk. For example, if you are the department clerk of department 100 and 200, you can only approve the timesheets of employees in those departments.
  • Search the employees in those departments and determine which pay schedules they belong to, then display those pay schedules in the drop-down menu.
    • Employee records are attached to pay schedules using the Financial tab of the Employee Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Employee> Financial tab> Pay Schedule field).
• Select the pay schedule and period you would like to include in the batch in the Schedule and Period drop-down menus. Use the field search button   to select one from a list.
  • If a pay schedule does not display in the drop-down menu, your user name or position is not set up as a department clerk for the employees in the pay schedule.

4     Select the timesheets to include in the batch.

• The Select Timesheets step is used to select the timesheets you would like to include in the batch. This step is only used to select which timesheets to include in the process. You will be able to approve and reject timesheet line items using the Timesheets step (PR> Timesheets Approval> Timesheets).
• Open the Select Timesheets window (PR> Timesheets Approval> Select Timesheets).
• Each employee that has entered a timesheet on the pay schedule selected during the Settings step will display as a single line item in the window. For example, if an employee has entered 10 timesheet line items using the Timesheets feature (PR> Timesheets Administration> Timesheets), all of those line items will be condensed down to a single line item for that employee.
• Check the Show my employees only toggle to limit the displayed employees to those that have the currently logged-in Cirrus user specified as their supervisor (PR> Maintenance> Employee> General tab> Supervisor field).
• Check the toggle of each employee you would like to process in the batch. You will be able to approve or reject specific line items on each timecard using the Timesheets step later in the process (PR> Timesheets Approval> Timesheets).
• If there is a timesheet that is not displaying in the window but should be, verify that the following is correct:
  • The employee has not entered a timesheet (PR> Timesheets Administration). If an employee has not entered a timesheet, nothing will display in the Select Timesheets step.
  • The employee is not attached to the pay schedule selected during the Setting step (PR> Timesheets Approval> Settings> Pay Schedule drop-down menu).
    • Employees are attached to pay schedules using the Employee Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Employee> Financial tab> Pay Schedule field).
  • The employee belongs to a department you can approve timesheets on. For example, if your username or position is only set up to the approve timesheets for a single department, the timesheets of employees in other departments will not display on the Select Timesheets window.
    • Departments are associated with user names or positions using the Role Maintenance window (SS> Security> Role).
    • You can view the position associated with your employee record using the Employee Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Employee> General tab> Position field).
• Click the Save button when complete.

5     View the line items on each of the timesheets included in the batch.

• The Timesheets step is used to view, modify, delete or void the timesheet line items on the timesheets included in the batch.
• Open the Timesheet window (PR> Timesheets Approval> Timesheets).
• The Timesheets window will display a single line item for each employee included in the batch using the Select Timesheets step (PR> Timesheets Approval> Select Timesheets).
• Select a timesheet and click EDIT to view the line items. This will open the Timesheet Maintenance window.
  • The Timesheet Maintenance window displays all of the line items associated with the selected timesheet.
  • The Timesheet section displays the employee information. These fields will not be enabled.
  • Click ENTER TIMESHEET to add a time entry to the timesheet.
  • Select a line item and click EDIT to modify it. This will open the Timesheet Line Item window.
    • The appearance and fields that display on the Timesheet Line Item window can be modified using the Tab Order feature. For example, if you will never enter a rate code or shift code on a timecard line item, you can remove those fields from your window using the Tab Order feature. If later on you have to enter a shift code or rate code, you can add those fields back to the window be clicking on the Reset icon on the Tab Order feature.
    • The Tab Order feature is an optional tool used to improve data entry. This allows you to enter the data you would like into the window and in the order you would like to enter it. This feature only changes how you view the window. Other users will be able to modify the window anyway they like and it will not affect how you view your window.
  • Only the Date, Pay Code and Hours fields are required. All of the other fields are optional.
  • The Date field is used to enter the date of the hours. Click the drop-down arrow to select the date using a calendar feature.
  • The Type drop-down menu is used to select the type of timesheet entry you would like to make.
    • Select Labor to enter labor hours.
    • Select Equipment to record the use of a piece of equipment. For example, if a service truck was used for 2.5 hours, you can select Equipment and then use the Timesheet Line Item window to record the use of the equipment.
      • Recording the use of equipment will not add time to the paycheck. For example, if you record 8 hours of use of a piece of equipment, but you do not create a timesheet line item of 8 hours to record the amount of time worked while using the equipment, that 8 hours will not be added to the paycheck.
      • Selecting Equipment will change the appearance of the window. The Pay Code field will change to Equipment Code and the fields that do not apply to equipment will become disabled.
      • The Equipment Code field is used to select the equipment you would like to record time on. Click the Equipment Code field search button   to select the equipment from a list.
      • Equipment is created and maintained using the Equipment Maintenance window (WO> Maintenance> Equipment).
  • The Pay Code field is used to select a pay code.
    • Pay codes determine how the time will affect the paycheck (for example, if the time is taxable or if the time reduces accrued time off or sick time).
    • Pay codes are created and maintained using the Pay Code Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Pay Code).
  • The Rate Code field is used to attach a rate code to the timesheet line item.
    • Rate codes act as a multiplier or modifier of the pay code. This is an optional feature that may not be used by your organization.
    • Rate codes are created and maintained using the Rate Code Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Rate Code).
  • The Shift Code field is used to attach a shift code to a timesheet line item.
    • Shift codes modify the time on a line item. For example, you may have a shift code titled SWING that increases the hourly rate of the hours on that line item by $1.00.
    • Just like rate codes, shift codes are optional and may not be used by your organization.
    • Shift codes are created and maintained using the Shift Code Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Shift).
  • The Hours/Units field is used to enter the number of hours on the timesheet line item.
  • The Reference Number field is used to enter a work order reference number.
    • This field will only be enabled if the Require unique reference number toggle is checked on the WO Setup window (WO> Utilities> Setup).
      • Unique reference numbers can help Cirrus users easily attach work orders to timesheets without having to remember specific work order numbers or use the work order selection window.
    • If this toggle is not checked the Reference Number field will not be enabled. If a reference number is attached to the work order selected below, that reference number will automatically populate.
  • The WO Number, Activity Type, and WO Asset fields are used to add WO module work order information to the timesheet line item.
    • You will not be able to attach a WO Number to the timesheet line item if the work order is locked (WO> Work Orders> Work Orders> Locked toggle).
    • If a WO Number is specified, and the Require activity types toggle is checked on the WO Setup window (WO> Utilities> Setup), you will be required to attach an Activity Type to the timesheet line item as well.
    • The selected Activity Type must be valid for specified work order.
  • The Account field is used to enter a GL account on the timesheet line item. This field may populate if there is a GL account attached to the pay code or rate code on the line item.
    • The GL account entered in this field will override the GL account attached to the employee record (PR> Maintenance> Employee> Distribution tab), and will be debited for the gross amount of the line item when the paycheck is generated in the Computer Checks process (PR> Computer Checks).
    • GL accounts are attached to pay codes using the Pay Code Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Pay Code> Account fields).
    • GL accounts are attached to rate codes using the Rate Code Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Rate Code> GL Account field).
  • The Work Compensation field is used to enter a workers' compensation code on the timesheet line item.
    • Just like the Account field, this field may populate with a workers' compensation code based on the pay code or rate code attached to the line item. If you leave this field blank, the workers' compensation code attached to the employee record will be used.
    • A workers' compensation code is attached to an employee record using the Employee Maintenance window (PR> Maintenance> Employee> Financial tab> Workers' Compensation field).
  • The Project Management module task and type code fields are used to add PM module information to the timesheet line items.
  • The Notes field is used to enter notes on a timesheet line item. The department clerk that approved the timesheets will be able to see the notes attached to the timesheet line items.
• Once the line item is complete, click the Save button.
• Review and modify the remaining timesheets in the batch and then print the proof list.

6     Generate the Proof List. 

• The Proof List displays the timesheets in the batch.
• Open the Proof List window (PR> Timesheets Approval> Proof List).
• The Report Type drop-down menu is used to select the information that will display on the report.
  • Select Employee Detail if you would like the report to display every timesheet line item on all of the employees in the batch. This version of the report will also display the rate, shift, GL account, workers' compensation code and PM module task and type codes attached to each timesheet line item.
  • Select Employee Detail with Flat Amount if you would like the report to display everything included in the Employee Detail report as well as the flat amount entered on any relevant timesheet line items.
  • Select Employee Summary by Code if you would like the timesheet line items on each employee to be totaled by pay code. For example, if an employee records all of their time using a pay code titled REG, but they took time off and recorded that time using a pay code titled VAC, the proof list will display two line items: the hours on pay code REG and the hours on pay code VAC. This version of the report will not include the timesheet line item detail (rate code, shift code, etc.).
  • Select Employee Summary by Code with Flat Amount if you would like the report to display everything included in the Employee Summary by Code report as well as the flat amount entered on any relevant timesheet line items.
  • Select Employee Summary by Date if you would like the timesheet line items on each employee to be totaled by date. For example, if an employee has three timesheet line items on 09/01/2023, all three of those line items will be totaled together on the proof list. This version of the report will only display the date attached to the timesheet line items. It will not include any other timesheet line item detail (pay code, rate code, etc.).
  • Select Employee Summary by Date with Flat Amount if you would like the report to display everything included in the Employee Summary by Date report as well as the flat amount entered on any relevant timesheet line items.
  • Select Work Order Detail if you would like the report to display all of the work order details associated with every timesheet line item on all of the employees in the batch. In addition to the work order number, this version of the report will display the WO reference number and WO activity type.
  • Select Work Order Detail with Equipment if you would like the report to display everything included in the Work Order Detail report as well as the equipment attached to any relevant timesheet line items.
• The Sort By drop-down menu is used to select the order in which the employees will display on the report.
  • Select Department, Employee Name if you would like the employees on the report to be grouped by department, and then by employee first name.
  • Select Department, Employee Number if you would like the employees on the report to be grouped by department, and then employee number.
• Check the Page break by department toggle if you would like to insert a page break after each department included on the report.
• Check the Show Timesheet Notes toggle if you would like to display any notes entered during the Quick Time Entry step. If this toggle is checked, but an included timesheet does not contain any notes, the notes field will not be displayed for that timesheet.
• Check the Print totals for Timesheet Periods toggle to include subtotals by Timesheet Period and Pay Code on the generated report.
• Once the required report settings have been specified, click the Print button   to print your report.
• Click the options arrow on the right side of the Print button to see other print options.
  • Select Send PDF to Job Viewer to print the report in the default Springbrook format.
  • Select Send Excel to Job Viewer to export the report data to an Excel spreadsheet as unformatted data.
  • Select Send Excel (Formatted) to Job Viewer to export the report data to an Excel spreadsheet that includes much of the Springbrook formatting found on the printed version of the report.
• Click the Schedule icon   next to the Print button in order to schedule the report to generate at a later date and time.
  • Enter a Date and Time to generate the report and click SUBMIT.

7     Generate the Alerts report.

• The Alerts report is used to notify the timesheets approver that the batch includes a transaction that might require additional attention.
• Open the Alerts report window (PR> Timesheets Approval> Alerts).
• Once the required report settings have been specified, click the Print button   to print your report.
• Click the options arrow on the right side of the Print button to see other print options.
  • Select Send PDF to Job Viewer to print the report in the default Springbrook format.
  • Select Send Excel to Job Viewer to export the report data to an Excel spreadsheet as unformatted data.
  • Select Send Excel (Formatted) to Job Viewer to export the report data to an Excel spreadsheet that includes much of the Springbrook formatting found on the printed version of the report.
• Click the Schedule icon next to the Print button in order to schedule the report to generate at a later date and time.
  • Enter a Date and Time to generate the report and click SUBMIT.
• The report will display the Employee Number, Employee Name, Date, Alert, and Message.

8     Generate a work flow. This is an optional step.

• The Generate Work Flows step applies if only certain employees are allowed to commit a Timesheets Approval batch. For example, if you are a department clerk, but only the department head is allowed to actually commit a Timesheets Approval batch, then run the Generate Work Flows step to notify the department head that a Timesheets Approval batch is ready to be committed. If you do not use work flows, skip to the Commit step and commit the batch. The committed timesheets can then be imported into a Computer Checks batch (PR> Computer Checks> Import Timesheets).
• Open the Generate Work Flows window (PR> Timesheets Approval> Generate Work Flows).
• Click the Submit button to generate the work flows. This will create a job on the Jobs Viewer window. Once the job is complete, the work flow will be created.
• Work flows are created and maintained on the Work Flow Maintenance window (SS> Work Flow> Work Flow Templates). Click here for information on Work Flows.

9     Review the work flows. This step is only required when using work flows.

• The Review Work Flows step is used to view the timesheets before committing the batch and is used in conjunction with the Generate Work Flows step. For example, a department clerk runs the Generate Work Flows step to notify the department head that timesheets are ready to be approved. The department head receives an email that the batch is ready to be committed, so they go into the Timesheets Approval batch, review the timesheets, and then commit the batch.
• Open the Review Work Flows window to review the timesheets in the batch (PR> Timesheets Approval> Review Work Flows).
• The Review Work Flows window displays the work flow generated by the Generate Work Flows step (PR> Timesheets> Generate Work Flows).
• The Status column displays the status of the work flow. If the work flow is waiting to be approved, the Status will be New.
• The Author column displays the department clerk that created the work flow (this is the employee that ran the Generate Work Flows step). If the timesheets are rejected, this is the employee that will receive the notification email that the timesheets have been rejected.
• The type of work flow generated during the Generate Work Flows step determines what needs to be done to the timesheets before the batch can be committed.
  • If the work flow is set up as an action step on your role (SS> Work Flow> Work Flow Templates), you will have to approve or reject the timesheets in the batch before you can commit the batch.
  • If the work flow is set up as an information step on your role (SS> Work Flow> Work Flow Templates), the commit step will be enabled and the batch will be ready to commit. You will not be able to view the timesheets in the batch or view the timesheet detail. When the work flow is set up as an information step, skip the Review Work Flows step and commit the Timesheets Approval batch.
• If you have to approve or reject the timesheets in the batch, highlight the work flow in the Review Work Flows window and click the Arrow buttons to expand   and contract   the work flow in order to display the individual work flow steps.
• Click OPEN on a work flow step to open the report or process that needs approval and approve or reject the work flow.

10     Commit the timesheets.

• Only timesheets that have been committed in a Timesheets Approval batch can be imported into a Computer Checks batch (PR> Computer Checks> Import).
• The Commit step will not be enabled if the Generate Work Flows step creates an action work flow and the timesheets in the batch have either not been approved or the timesheets have been rejected.
• Select Commit on the Timesheets Approval batch. This will open an information window to commit the batch.
• The Activity Batch field is used to specify an open Work Orders Activity batch.
  • This field will only be active if an included timesheet has an attached work order. Any timesheet line item activity will be sent to the specified Activity batch and display as either Labor or Equipment activity. Once that activity is processed through the Activity batch, the hours recorded on the timesheet will populate the associated work order.
  • Work order activity is processed on the WO Activity window (WO> Activity).
• The Activity JE Date field is used to specify the JE date attached to the journal entry that will be created by the resulting WO Activity batch.
  • This field will only be enabled if an included timesheet has an attached work order AND the Automatically process activity batch toggle is checked below.
• The Transactions Batch field is used to specify an open IC Inventory Transactions batch.
  • This field will only be active if a timesheet line item in the batch includes Materials activity that affects an IC item.
  • If a transaction batch is not specified, the system will create a new Inventory Transactions batch for the new materials activity.
  • Inventory transactions are processed on the Inventory Transactions window (IC> Inventory Transactions).
• Check the Automatically process activity batch toggle to automatically process each step in the WO Activity process when the Timesheets Approval batch is committed.
  • Checking this toggle enables the Activity JE Date above. The date specified in that field will be used as the JE date for the journal entry created when the new Activity batch is committed.
  • When this toggle is checked, the Activity Batch field will be disabled and you will not be able to add the timesheet line item activity to an open Activity batch. Instead, the system will create a new Activity batch for the activity.
• Click the Commit button to commit the Timesheets Approval batch.