Rules Engine: The Complexity Your HR System Can't Handle
The rules engine from Synel takes raw clocking data and applies the pay logic your organisation actually uses. Overtime thresholds, shift premiums, rounding policies, and weighted hours are calculated automatically, removing the manual work and guesswork standard HR systems struggle with.
The reality today
Manual payroll calculation is a nightmare of nested IF statements and crossed fingers. Different overtime rates kick in at different thresholds, weekend premiums stack on top of night shifts, and bank holidays have their own rules entirely. One formula error and you're either overpaying the wage bill or underpaying staff—neither ends well.
The Solution
Synel’s rules engine applies your pay policies consistently as time is captured. Clocked hours are categorised automatically using your thresholds, premiums, and rounding rules, so complexity is handled by the system rather than recreated manually each pay run.
Handle Any Complexity
Weighted hours, shift premiums, stacking overtime—the rules engine handles scenarios spreadsheets can't.
Consistent Application
Same rounding policies, same threshold rules applied identically across every employee, every time.
Eliminate Errors
No more formula errors or missed premiums. The system calculates what humans routinely get wrong.
Instant Payroll Export
Categorised hours export directly to payroll. No manual re-keying, no transcription mistakes.
Key Features
Everything you need, built in.
How Time & Attendance Works
From clocking in to payroll-ready data in a few simple steps.
Define Rules
Set up pay categories, thresholds, rounding policies, and contract limits.
Capture Clocking
Employees clock in and out. Raw time data captured from terminals across all sites.
Apply Logic
Rules engine applies your policies—overtime thresholds, premiums, rounding, weighted hours.
Categorise Hours
System categorises hours into correct pay buckets: Basic, OT x1.5, OT x2.0, Bank Holiday, etc.
Export Data
Calculated, categorised data exports to Sage, SAP, Cascade, or other payroll software.
Built for Your Sector
About Rules Engine
Your HR system is great at managing people but bad at calculating complex shifts. Synel's rules engine bridges that gap—automatically converting raw clocking data into net pay data through sophisticated, user-defined parameters. It's the reason major HR and payroll companies partner with Synel rather than building their own T&A modules.
Configurable Pay Categories
Define up to 20 different pay categories to match your specific contracts and union rules: Basic Hours, Overtime x1.5, Overtime x2.0, Bank Holiday Rates, Night Shift Premium—whatever your pay structure requires. As employees clock in and out, the system automatically tags their hours to the correct category based on your rules.
Contracts and Thresholds
Set weekly or monthly hour thresholds per contract type. The system tracks cumulative hours in real-time—the moment an employee crosses their 40-hour threshold, subsequent hours automatically switch to the Overtime category. Set upper and lower limits to contract hours and working periods for compliance and cost control.
Weighted Hours
The rules engine handles scenarios that manual spreadsheets routinely get wrong. An employee works 30 actual hours but gets paid for 42.6 weighted hours due to shift differentials, weekend premiums, and overtime thresholds. The system calculates it automatically—no formula errors, no missed premiums.
Global Rounding Policies
Automate how lateness and grace periods affect pay. If a shift starts at 08:00 and someone clocks in at 08:02, the rounding policy dictates whether they're paid from 08:00 or docked. Apply the same rules consistently across your entire workforce—fair, transparent, and automatic.
Why HR Systems Partner with Synel
This level of complexity is why major HR and payroll companies rely on Synel rather than building their own T&A modules. Converting gross hours to net pay hours—with all the shift logic, premiums, and thresholds—requires a purpose-built rules engine. Standard HR software simply isn't designed for it.
Direct Payroll Export
Once the rules engine has calculated and categorised hours—35 hours Basic, 5 hours OT x1.5, 2 hours Bank Holiday—the data exports directly to your payroll software. Sage, SAP, Pegasus, Earnie, Cascade, and others. No manual entry, no transcription errors, no Friday afternoon payroll panic.
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Related Time & Attendance Solutions
Explore more solutions that work together.
Shift Scheduling
Plan shifts visually, match skills to demand, and avoid rota conflicts before they happen.
Overtime Calculation
Automatic overtime calculation that removes manual spreadsheets and payroll deadline stress.
Payroll Export
Export fully processed pay data to payroll without re-keying or last-minute fixes.
Time & Attendance FAQs
Common questions about time & attendance answered.
What is a time and attendance rules engine?
A rules engine is the software logic that converts raw clocking data into accurate net pay. Unlike basic systems that just record start and finish times, Synel's rules engine automatically calculates shift differentials, overtime thresholds, grace periods and break deductions.
This ensures gross-to-net hours are calculated accurately before data is sent to payroll, eliminating manual calculations and spreadsheet errors.
The complexity of this logic is why major payroll providers like Iris and Cascade partner with Synel rather than building it themselves.
Can the system handle complex shift patterns and manufacturing rosters?
Yes. The system is specifically designed for sectors like manufacturing and logistics that rely on hourly-paid workers with complex shifts.
It supports advanced scheduling based on skills and availability, and automatically applies specific pay rules to different shifts. Nights, weekends, bank holidays and overtime thresholds are all handled automatically.
The rules engine handles scenarios that spreadsheets routinely get wrong, such as an employee working 30 actual hours but being paid for 42.6 weighted hours due to shift premiums.
How does the system help with Working Time Regulations compliance?
The system automates tracking of the 48-hour working week, 11-hour daily rest periods and mandatory break compliance. Real-time alerts notify managers when employees approach limits, allowing roster adjustments before breaches occur.
For multi-site operators, it aggregates working hours across all locations. This is critical because standard systems often miss breaches when staff cover shifts at different sites.
Statutory reports provide evidence for audits and tribunals.
What payroll systems does Synel integrate with?
Synel integrates with major UK payroll and HR systems including Sage, SAP, Oracle, Iris, Cascade, Pegasus and ADP.
Our open architecture allows integration with virtually any system that can accept data imports or has an API. The system exports approved hours directly to these platforms, reducing administrative time and eliminating manual data entry.
How does holiday accrual work for hourly workers?
Unlike salaried staff with fixed holiday allowances, hourly workers accrue entitlement based on hours actually worked.
Synel's rules engine calculates this automatically. It tracks actual hours, applies accrual logic and updates balances in real-time.
When holiday is taken, pay is calculated correctly using the 52-week reference period required by legislation. This complexity is why payroll companies partner with Synel rather than building accrual logic themselves.
See the rules engine in action
Book a demo to see how Synel can streamline your operations and deliver measurable ROI.
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