HS ASC: Meal & Break Planning Configuration

Overview

Meal & Break Planning (MBP) allows Above Store Console (ASC) users to create and assign rule sets that determine when scheduled shifts qualify for meals and/or breaks. Rule sets can contain one or more rules based on criteria such as shift length, meal or break duration, and whether additional meals or breaks apply for longer shifts.

Rule sets are assigned to stores within the organization’s hierarchy. Once assigned, the configured rules determine meal and break eligibility for applicable shifts in the Scheduler.

For information about meal and break compliance requirements, refer to this article: HS: Meal and Break Planning Overview. 

For information about viewing and scheduling meals and breaks at the store level, refer to this article: HS: Meal & Break Planning in the Scheduler

Meal & Break Planning Rule Sets

Rule sets are assigned to stores within the organization hierarchy, and they can contain multiple rules applicable to different employees. 

Store level managers will have the option assign specific rules to different employees (if needed). If there is only one rule, it will apply to all employees at assigned stores.

To access Meal & Break Planning:

• Hover over the Scheduling tab in the Above Store Console
• Select Meal & Break Planning

The Meal & Break Planning page will display all existing rule sets for the organization, including:

• Rule Set Name
• Number of Assigned Stores
• Date Modified

Create and Edit Meal & Break Planning Rule Sets

To create a new rule set, select the blue Add Rule Set button:

The next page will require the configuration of the first meal or break allocation within the new rule set.

A - Rule Name: Enter a name for the rule. 
B - Meal or Break: Choose whether the allocation is a meal or break. In Meal & Break Planning, meal allocations are treated as unpaid time and deducted from the employee's scheduled shift duration, while break allocations are treated as paid time.
C - Eligibility: Defines the number of hours an employee must work to be eligible for the rule. 
D - Length: Defines the duration of the meal or break.
E - Recurring: Allows multiple meals or breaks to apply when the shift continues to meet the configured eligibility requirement. 
F - Add Allocation: Adds another allocation to the rule, such as including both meal and break allocations.

After configuring the rule, select the blue Save button.

This will bring you to the next page where you can:

• Name the rule set

• Add additional rules within the set

• Edit the Apply Meals/Breaks to Shifts setting (more details below)

• Assign stores to the rule set

If there are multiple rules within a set, select which should be the Default. Store level managers can designate which rule each employees is assigned to on the Staff list. If the rule set contains only one rule, that rule applies to all employees at assigned stores.

The Name of Set must be updated before you can select the blue save button at the bottom of the page.

When editing existing rule sets, select any rule set name to view and edit the configuration or update the assigned stores, including:

• Update Name of Set
• View or edit any existing rules within the set by selecting the rule name
• Select the blue Add button to create a new rule within the set

• Edit the Apply Meals/Breaks to Shifts setting

• Assign stores to the rule set

Apply Meals/Breaks to Shifts Setting

The Apply Meals/Breaks to Shifts setting determines how eligible meals and breaks are handled in the Scheduler at the store level.

• Enabled: Eligible meals and breaks are applied directly to scheduled shifts based on the configured rule. Managers can review and adjust the meal or break times in the Shift Editor.
• Disabled: Eligible shifts display meal and break information, but meals and breaks are not added directly to the shift. Managers can plan and record applicable times using the Roster Report.

For more information on what this looks like at the store level, refer to this article: HS: Meal & Break Planning in the Scheduler.

To update this setting:

• Select the applicable rule set
• Enable or disable Apply Meals/Breaks to Shifts as needed
• Select the blue Save button at the bottom of the page

Assign Stores to Rule Sets

• Within a rule set, select the Stores tab to assign this rule set to all of the necessary locations. 

• After checking the boxes for all the locations, select Save. 

Note: Stores can only be assigned to one rule set at a time. On this page the current assignment is displayed under Assigned Set. Select the store to reassign it to the new rule set, and save the changes.

Advanced Configuration

Advanced Configuration provides additional control over when a meal or break rule applies based on shift start time, shift end time, and the window in which a meal should occur.

Advanced Configuration can be useful when standard eligibility and duration settings are not sufficient for the requirements being configured.

For information about enabling Advanced Configuration, configuring time-based conditions, and working with multiple advanced rules, see HS ASC: Advanced Meal Break Planning.

Related Articles

• HS: Meal and Break Planning Overview
• HS ASC: Advanced Meal Break Planning
• HS: Meal & Break Planning in the Scheduler
• HS ASC: Pay Exceptions - Meals & Breaks Rule