Frequently Asked Questions
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      Fairness Tools

      By default, signing up for jobs within PowerDetails is completely open and unrestricted. Personnel can sign up for any job at any time. It isn't until you begin to use the fairness tools in the program that job application becomes restricted.

      There are six tools available within PowerDetails that allow you to customize job settings to keep distribution fair among employees. These tools are:

      Refresh Thresholds

      Refresh thresholds are put into place to prevent employees from “camping out” and refreshing a job record over and over again. This promotes fairness in situations where a number of jobs are opening for bidding at the same time. See Threshold comment and security site settings for information on setting up refresh thresholds.

      Rules

      Rules define limits on how many jobs and/or hours personnel can work within a given time frame. Rules can be used very broadly to promote a "fair-playing field" or to enforce policies.

      Job Sets

      Job sets specify when personnel can apply for jobs within a specific time period. This can be all at the same time, within certain periods of times (like "store hours") or ordered randomly or by seniority.

      Max Application Time Frame

      The Max Application Time Frame sets a standard throughout your site as to the time frame personnel can apply for jobs. This allows administrators and personnel administrators to populate their calendar as far out as they'd like without having personnel apply for jobs too far out in advance.

      Lock Status

      Lock status allows you to post a job while preventing personnel from applying for it right away. You can choose to leave a job unlocked, lock it indefinitely until an administrator unlocks it, or enter a date and time it will automatically unlock and be accessible to personnel. The exact date and time that the job will unlock can be hidden from personnel when using the Hide Locked Until setting.

      Locked Until times can also be randomized and hidden from personnel in the event of a position becoming available due to a cancellation, requested cancellation or termination on a filled job without backups present. If your staff has the tendency to give away jobs to friends by notifying them before they cancel from a job, this setting can help give equal opportunity to other employees interested in the position.

      Unrestricted Period

      This tool allows for an automated "leniency period" to be established on certain rules that you specify. This can be especially helpful for jobs that are considered "unpopular" and may need restrictions lifted in order to get them filled. Open jobs within the unrestricted period will blink in green to draw attention to it. Security restrictions will still apply, but this may increase the chances of getting a job filled.

      Job Security

      A job’s security tab can allow certain groups of people to have application rights or view-only rights. 

      Example Scenarios

      Read on to see some example real-world scenarios, and how the fairness tools within PowerDetails come into play.

      Note: Before taking advantage of this section, please ensure you have read and understand all sections of the Fairness tools, as well as how to set up and use each tool by referring to the appropriate further sections listed.

      Scenario 1

      Today is May 15, 2019 9:00 AM. Jimmy wants to apply for an open job that takes place June 17, 2019 from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. He has signed up for one detail this week. Your team has placed the following restrictions on your site:

      Tool Restriction
      Rule Employees may sign up for two off-duty details per week based on the application date (always enforced = false).
      Job Set Employees can sign up for jobs between 12:00 AM June 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019 at 11:59 PM on May 15, 2019 at 8:00 AM. The bid type is "Fixed Bid".
      Max Application Time Frame Employees may apply for jobs 60 days in advance.
      Lock Status The job Jimmy wants to apply for is unlocked and is adhering to the job set's locking mechanism only.
      Open Unrestricted Period The open Unrestricted Period limit is 3.
      Job Security This job is open to the group “All Personnel”. Jimmy is a member of this group.


      Is Jimmy able to apply for this job?

      ANSWER: Yes.

      • Jimmy may sign up for two jobs a week based on the date of his application. Since he has already signed up for one job this week, he can sign up for one more.
      • There is a fixed bid time for jobs in June. Therefore, Jimmy can sign up for these jobs at any time after May 11th at 8:00 AM.
      • The job is less than 60 days away and doesn't violate the Max Application Time Frame restriction.
      • The job is unlocked.
      • Open Unrestricted Period don't apply – the job is more than three days away.
      • Since the “All Personnel” group that Jimmy is a part of has the right to view and apply to this job, Jimmy may do so.

      Scenario 2

      Today is June 26, 2019. Susie wants to apply for an open job that takes place June 29, 2019 from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM. She has worked/is assigned for 38 off-duty hours total during the month of June. Your team has placed the following restrictions on your site:

      Tool Restriction
      Rule Employees may work 40 off-duty hours per month based on the job date (always enforced = false).
      Job Set Employees can sign up for jobs between June 1, 2019 at 12:00 AM through June 30, 2019 at 11:59 PM on May 15, 2019 at 8:00 AM. The bid type is "seniority". Susie’s seniority-generated bid time is May 18, 2019 at 8:46 AM.
      Max Application Time Frame Employees may apply for jobs 90 days in advance.
      Lock Status The job Susie wants to apply for is unlocked and is adhering to the job set's locking mechanism only.
      Open Unrestricted Period The open Unrestricted Period limit is 4.
      Job Security This job is open to the group “All Personnel”. Susie is a member of this group.


      Is Susie able to apply for this job?

      ANSWER: Yes.

      • Susie already has 38 off-duty hours for the month of June (the 40-hours-a-month rule is based on the date the job happens, so even if she applied in, say, May, this rule would apply). Normally she wouldn't be able to sign up for this six-hour shift. However, this rule is not always enforced, so since the job is within the 4-day open Unrestricted Period limit, Susie may sign up for it.
      • Based on the seniority-generated bid times, Susie was eligible on May 18th to sign up for jobs in June. She may sign up for jobs in this range at any time after her scheduled apply date and time.
      • The job is less than 90 days away and doesn't violate the Max Application Time Frame  restriction.
      • The job was unlocked for Susie on May 18th at 8:46 AM.
      • Susie is a member of the “All Personnel” group and therefore has viewing and applying rights.

      Scenario 3

      Today is August 12, 2019. Jane wants to apply for an open job that is happening on September 3, 2019 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. She has signed up for three off-duty hours today. Your team has placed the following restrictions on your site:

      Tool Restriction
      Rule Employees may sign up for 10 off-duty hours per day based on the application date (always enforced = true).
      Job Set Employees can sign up for jobs between September 1, 2019 at 12:00 AM through September 31, 2019 at 11:59 PM starting on August 10, 2019. The bid type is "random". Jane’s randomly-generated bid time is August 13, 2019 at 2:24 PM.
      Max Application Time Frame Employees may apply for jobs 90 days in advance.
      Lock Status The job Jane wants to apply for is unlocked and is adhering to the job set's locking mechanism only.
      Open Unrestricted Period The open Unrestricted Period limit is 6.
      Job Security This job is open to the group “All Personnel”. Jane is a member of this group.


      Is Jane able to apply for this job?

      ANSWER: No.

      Jane meets all other requirements, but her bid time isn't until the next day – August 13, 2019 at 2:24 PM.

      Scenario 4

      Today is October 21, 2019. Bob wants to apply for an open job that takes place December 18, 2019 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Your team has placed the following restrictions on your site:

      Tool Restriction
      Rule Employees may sign up for 4 off-duty details per week based on the job date (always enforced = false).
      Job Set There are no job sets in place.
      Max Application Time Frame Employees may apply for jobs 30 days in advance.
      Lock Status The job Bob wants to apply for is unlocked.
      Open Unrestricted Period The open Unrestricted Period limit is 3.
      Job Security This job is open to the group “All Personnel”. Bob is a member of this group.


      Is Bob able to apply for this job?

      ANSWER: No.

      Bob meets all other requirements but the job is happening more than 30 days from now, which violates the Max Application Time Frame setting.