- 2 June 2008

Rostering software should make life easier for Pact staff working out rosters in Pact services and for those processing them back at the office.

Pact director of finance Craig Sutherland says the software, called TimeTarget, has been installed and key people in Otago have undergone training. Different rosters have been set up for all of the Otago services.

“We’ve just getting the accesses right for the people who have undergone the training to get in and have a wee play around with it,” Craig says.

A couple of Otago sites will run TimeTarget to see if there are any issues to address. The aim is to then gradually roll out the software in Otago during June and then, following training, it will go in on the West Coast and Southland .

“What it means is that we can get away without having time sheets,” Craig says. “It automatically takes the stuff off the rosters and transfers it over on [an] electronic file to Comacc.”

Craig says it holds all the rates agreed to in Pact’s employment agreements and automatically pays them. So when a nightshift occurs it pays a nightshift rate and automatically pays appropriate sleepover or RIDCA payments as well.

Staff members will be able to apply for leave through the software. Their supervisor gets the application and approves it online.

“So we won’t have to fill out application for leave forms or anything like that. It automatically puts it on the roster when this person has been approved leave and [shows] those holes in the roster have got to be filled up by somebody. It will suggest people who have the necessary experience and skills ... [and their] contact details.”

Supervisors can also look back over historical information and work out, for example, if someone always seems to be off sick on a Friday afternoon.

Craig says TimeTarget calculates the number of hours in a roster and the cost, because it looks at each individual’s hourly payrate. He says it is a tool for supervisors to plan their rosters and work out who’s available and make the best use of staff.

“It could also be used as a cost saving thing as well."

Craig says the software should also make a huge difference for payroll staff.

“They’re not going to have to manually input all the information although there is still going to have be some process where they make sure everything all looks right.”

For further comment please contact:
Louise Carr
Pact CEO
Ph: 03 470 2206
Cell: 027 499 3251
louise.carr@pactgroup.co.nz