The Service Definition Library allows you to set up any number of service calculation rules that will be referenced, based on their appropriate time period, by a Service Definition Set.

Name may be any descriptive phrase, including spaces, under which to save this Service Definition.

Calculate service based on provides a choice of 3 (three) general approaches to compute service:

The Elapsed time method uses the difference between two dates as its basic approach to counting service.

The Reported hours method uses an array field of hours that are reported monthly, annually, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or quarterly. The hours can be provided in the form of the number of hours worked during a specific period of time (month, year, etc.) or the number of hours accumulated during a specific period of time. ProAdmin can only accumulate values when the array uses start and stop dates. Please see reported hours examples for a discussion of the difference between effective- and start/stop-dated hours arrays.

The Reported service units method uses an array field of service units that are reported on a periodic basis They can be reported monthly, annually, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or quarterly. The hours can be provided in the form of an amount of service worked during a specific period of time (month, year, etc.) or the amount of service accumulated during a period of time. ProAdmin can only accumulate values when the array uses start and stop dates. Please see reported service units examples for a discussion of the difference between effective- and start/stop-dated service unit arrays.

Service rounding rule allows you to select an entry from the Service Rounding Library to use as the final rounding for the Service Definition. The multi-choice field allows you to choose from the Service Rounding library entries unhidden in the current Project, or click the button to edit an existing entry or add a new entry to this library. The Round service earned within each measurement period checkbox allows you to additionally round service within each measurement period using the same rounding rule as selected above.

Measurement Period (used to group and count service periods) is the incremental time-span over which service is determined. This is usually years (and partial years). Valid measurement periods are: plan year, calendar year, anniversary year, quarter (plan year), quarter (calendar year), month, semi-month, bi-week and week.

End of measurement period is needed when anniversary year, bi-weekly or weekly is selected as the measurement period. This date designates the end of any measurement. ProAdmin uses the date as a starting point to establish the ending dates for all other measurement periods by adding or subtracting 1 year for anniversary year, 7 days for weekly or 14 days for bi-weekly.  The end of measurement period date can be specified as either a constant Date, or as a value that potentially varies by member by choosing a date Field from the Data Dictionary.

Event Definition (used to start and stop service) is used when events are being used to determine service. This allows you to select an entry from the library of Event Definitions. The start and stop events that are described in the selected Event Definition will be used to determine how service is to be computed. If there is no event definition chosen, the calculation must have a starting date which is requested as the start date field on the Elapsed time parameters screen when using the elapsed time method. ProAdmin will use the Date of hire as specified on the Census Specifications as the start date when using Reported hours or Reported service units methodologies. The button allows you to edit an existing event definition or add a new entry to this library. Note: prospective dialog screens change significantly in service definitions depending on whether events an event definition is used or not. The Ignore Events button permits you to ignore events within the Event Definition that will not be used in this service definition. The available events to ignore will only include the events that start or stop service as designated in the event definition. It will not include events that have been designated as ‘Ignore event.’

Select a topic to edit section provides the appropriate topics for the type of service calculation selected (in the Calculate service based on section above). Click on the topic name to access its parameters.

Elapsed time parameters is available when service is calculated based on elapsed time
Hours conversion is available when service is calculated based on reported hours
Reported service units conversion is available when service is calculated based on reported service units
Service eligibility (e.g., 21 and one)
Service start adjustment
Service stop adjustment
Grandfathered service
Service multiplier (e.g., part-time adjustment) is available when service is calculated based on elapsed time
Alternative service calculation is available except when service is calculated based on elapsed time using date subtraction
Service transformation expression is available when service is calculated based on elapsed time