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Broken Shifts and Overtime Shifts

  • Updated

1. What is a Broken Shift?

A Broken Shift is when a staff member works two or more separate periods in one day, with a gap of more than 15 minutes between shifts, excluding meal breaks.

 

2. What are the rules that define a Broken Shift in Sygnal?

  • Gaps between shift periods over 15 minutes (excluding meal breaks) = Broken Shift.

  • Meal breaks do not count towards broken shift gaps if part of the same shift.

  • Sleepover shifts do not break continuity unless followed by a separate shift within 10 hours.

  • After a full 10-hour break, whether it’s after a sleepover or an ordinary shift, the system essentially resets for Broken Shift calculations for the new day.

    Disclaimer: This feature is intended as a support tool for managers to assist with shift planning and compliance. It does not replace formal award interpretation or determinations made by Payroll.

3. When is a shift considered a Broken Shift after a Meal Break?

Three scenarios:

  1. Not a Broken when the Meal break is part of a single shift

  2. Broken if the Shift resumes more than 15 minutes after the meal break ends

  3. Broken if the Meal break has a gap before and after (not part of the same shift)

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4. What is Overtime in Sygnal?

Overtime occurs when:

  • A staff member works more than 10 hours in a day,(standard hours), or

  • Has less than 10 hours' break between shifts if it continues per calendar day (midnight to midnight).

5. How is Overtime calculated in Sygnal?

  • Daily total active hours (excluding meal breaks and sleepover hours) are added.

  • If they exceed the threshold (e.g., 10 hrs/day), excess hours are flagged as overtime

  • Sleepover passive hours are not counted in overtime (only active hours are).

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6. What is considered a Continuous Shift?

A shift is continuous when:

  • There is no unrostered gap between work periods

  • Meal breaks are within the same rostered shift

  • All work periods are scheduled as a single shift block

7. Are Meal Breaks counted in Broken or Overtime logic?

No. Meal breaks:

  • Do not contribute to the broken shift gap logic

  • Are excluded from overtime calculation.

8. Do Sleepover Shifts impact Broken or Overtime logic?

Yes, with conditions:

  • Passive sleepover hours (e.g., 10 PM–6 AM) are not counted in overtime

  • Only active hours before or after the sleepover are added to daily totals

  • No 10-hour break after a sleepover → next shift may trigger Broken Shift or Overtime.

9. What is the 10-Hour Minimum Break Rule?

Staff must have at least 10 hours between two ordinary shifts. If not:

  • The second shift may be considered overtime or invalid

  • The system will flag overtime at roster creation and roster approval screens.

10. Are Fully Cancelled or Non-Billable Shifts included?

  • Fully Cancelled, Billable Cancelled, and Staff Rejected shifts are excluded from the broken and overtime shift logic.

  • Only Staff-Paid Cancelled shifts are included for broken and overtime shifts.

  • Non-billable shift types, except the meal break are considered towards overtime or broken shift rules.

11. What validations happen during roster creation & Roster Amendment?

Sygnal will auto-validate and flag the Broken shift and overtime based on:

  • 10-hour rest breaks between shifts

  • Gaps >15 minutes

  • Total daily hours

  • Passive vs. active hours

12. Can I roster and approve shifts by overriding a flag shift for broken and overtime?

Yes, you can approve and amend shifts.

  • The shift will be falg with Overtime and broken shift status on the roster calender view and approval views, there is no restriction on rostering or reporting for users.

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