Introduction

In this article we will try to show how to use a Global Absence Partial Period Accrual Rate Formula in Oracle Fusion Applications. This formula would work both for a Cloud as well as On-Premise Enviornment.

But before we delve deep into the topic let us try to understand what is meant by a Fast Formula. In the simplest terms a Fast Formula is a Code Snippet which allows us to add conditional logics (IF-ELSE constructs) and provide a way to customize the seeded solution. They are used across various places in the application with some of the most commonly known ones being Absence Management, Payroll, HCM Extracts, Benefits...etc. Some sample Fast Formulas of different types along with real project use cases may be referred via below links:

1. Global Absence Accrual Fast Formula

2. Global Absence Accrual Matrix Fast Formula

3. Global Absence Entry Validation Fast Formula

4. Global Absence Vesting Period Fast Formula

5. Participation and Rate Eligibility Type Fast Formula

Also you may feel free to refer An Overview of Fusion Absence Management which demonstrates how a Fast Formula is used effectively to meet several business requirements in Absence Management Module.

But let-us come back to the current topic of ‘Global Absence Partial Period Accrual Rate’ Fast Formula. As the name suggests this type of Fast Formula is used for calculating accrual values within a partial accrual period.

The Partial period accrual formula determines how employees enrolled part way through the term accrue time. It is needed for front loaded plans (an accrual plan where the entire accrual balance is allocated in the beginning of the plan term). It is not relevant to incremental plans, as each period is calculated separately.

For example, if the entire accrual period is 1 year duration but in case an employee either joins / leaves the organization in mid of the year then he/she might only be eligible for a partial accrual instead of the entire accrual balance.  

Also one of the most common usage of this fast formula is ensuring ‘Accruals are not re-processed when accrual balances are imported at Cutover from Legacy Application’. In such cases accrual balance are already allocated to individuals in the Legacy Application and they Balance is transferred as Initial Balance and we would want to ensure that accrual values are not reallocated as this would mean providing the accruals twice within the same term period.

Input Variables Available to Global Absence Partial Period Accrual Rate Formula

Each Fast Formula has a specific list of input variables which are available for any calculations, validations and processing within the fast formula and they are prefixed with IV (which stands for Input Variable) the ones which are applicable for A Fast Formula of ‘Global Absence Partial Period Accrual Rate Formula are:

IV_ACCRUAL

This is an input variable with NUMBER as a Data Type and it holds the accrual value (value for the entire plan term) associated with the Accrual Plan

IV_CARRYOVER

This input variable holds the carryover value for the Accrual Plan. This has a data type of NUMBER

IV_CEILING

Each Accrual plan has a maximum limit of accrual value referred to as ceiling. This input variable returns the same associated with the Accrual Plan to which this formula is attached and has a NUMBER data type attached to itself.

IV_ACCRUALPERIODSTARTDATE

As the name suggests this holds the start date of the Accrual Period. It has a DATE type data type associated with itself

IV_ACCRUALPERIODENDDATE

Like each Accrual Period has a start date, it has an end date too. This input variable (DATE data type) holds the value.

IV_CALEDARSTARTDATE

This Input Variable is of DATE data type and holds the Start Date of the Accrual Calendar Year

IV_CALEDARENDDATE

This input variable holds the End Date of the Accrual Calendar year. It is a DATE data type input variable

IV_PLANENROLLMENTSTARTDATE

This DATE type Input Variable holds the plan enrollment start date (date on which an individual got enrolled to the accrual plan)

IV_PLANENROLLMENTENDDATE

This DATE type Input Variable holds the plan enrollment end date (date on which an individual got himself/herself de-enrolled from the accrual plan)

Output/Return Variables

Like we have an input variable associated with a Fast Formula we also have a output/return variable too. For this particular type of formula the output variable is accrual.

ACCRUAL

This output variable holds the partial period pro-rated accrual value returned for the particular partial repeating period. Value is returned gets added as an accrual line. For processing termination of enrollment for front loaded plans, the variable should return a negative value, to deduct pro-rated amount from the existing annual accrual value. It has a NUMBER data type associated with it.

So this is about a little detail and information about the Global Absence Partial Period Accrual Rate Formula and its components (input and output variables). Let-us try to look at a sample use case scenario and understand the concept better.

Business Requirement

Customer has configured a ‘Annual Leave’ Absence Plan and they want to ensure that if an individual either joins or leaves the organization in mid-term (the Total Absence term being 12 months) then they should not be given the total accrual value but rather a prorated value. They have decided to have a band for 3 months such that if someone is with organization for 3 months then he/she would be entitled for 4 days of leave, someone who is with organization for 3 to 6 months then he/she would be entitled to 8 days of leave, someone who is with organization for 6 to 9 months then he /she would be entitled to 8 days and one who has been with organization for 9 to 12 months would be entitled to 16 days of annual leave.

The above details when captured in a Fast Formula the fast formula would be as below:

Formula Content

/****************************************************************************** FORMULA NAME: XX_ANC_XX_PARACC_AnnualXXAssignee

FORMULA TYPE: Global Absence Partial Period Accrual Rate

DESCRIPTION: This formula returns the FTE pro-rated partial period accrual for employees enrolled into Annual Leave plan

Change History:

Name Date Comments

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ashish Harbhajanka   20-Apr-2015 Initial Version

Ashish Harbhajanka   16-Jun-2015 Changed Accrual Calculation Basis From Hire Date to Assignment Start Date

*******************************************************************************/

DEFAULT FOR PER_REL_ORIGINAL_DATE_OF_HIRE IS '4712/12/31 00:00:00' (date)

DEFAULT FOR PER_ASG_REL_DATE_START is '4712/12/31 00:00:00' (date)

ld_term_end_date = TO_DATE('31-12-'||TO_CHAR(PER_REL_ORIGINAL_DATE_OF_HIRE, 'rrrr'),'dd-mm-rrrr')

ld_term_end_date = TO_DATE('31-12-'||TO_CHAR(PER_ASG_REL_DATE_START, 'rrrr'),'dd-mm-rrrr')     

/* Added By Ashish on 16-Jun-2015 */  

ln_accrual = 0

ln_months = MONTHS_BETWEEN(ld_term_end_date, PER_REL_ORIGINAL_DATE_OF_HIRE)   ln_months = MONTHS_BETWEEN(ld_term_end_date, PER_ASG_REL_DATE_START)   

/* Added By Ashish on 16-Jun-2015 */

IF (ln_months < 3)

THEN

(ln_accrual = 4)

IF (ln_months >= 3 AND ln_months < 6)

THEN

(ln_accrual = 8)

IF (ln_months >= 6 AND ln_months < 9)

THEN

(ln_accrual = 12)

IF (ln_months >= 9 AND ln_months < 12)

THEN (ln_accrual = 16)  

accrual = ln_accrual

vestingUnits=1

vestingUOM='M'  

RETURN accrual,vestingUnits,vestingUOM

Steps to Create Fast Formula within the Application

Yep… we need to login to the application first with a user who has an Application Administrator Role Assigned (we will use HCM_IMPL user for this example)

Once you click on login we would land up on the Homepage

Click on Navigator icon at the top left-hand side, and then click on 'Setup and Maintenance'.

This would bring us to the Functional Setup Manager page:

Next we need to search for ‘Manage Fast Formula’ Task. Click on the 'Manage Fast Formulas' task, which will take you to a UI screen where you can search and edit existing fast formulas as well as create a new one. (using the + symbol)

A click on the Add Icon and the below screen would appear:

We need to populate the below details:

Once we click on continue we would see the next screen

And now we need to add the Formula Content into the Formula Text Area

We will see that the compile status shows an (X) and that's because we have not saved and Compiled the same.

Click on 'Compile'>OK the status will change to a green tick mark

Next we should click on the ‘Done’ button on top right hand corner of the page and we would land up on the ‘Search Fast Formula’ Page

In order to confirm that the fast formula is successfully created we should search for the same here and when we type the Fast Formula Name in the Formula Name field

Yipeee!!  We can find the Fast Formula and the compilation status is also set to compiled.

And with this we have reached the end of this article.

This is just a simple prototype showcasing the capabilities of Global Absence Partial Period Accrual Rate Fast Formula and many more complex things can be achieved using the same. Do give a try and feel free to reach out to us in-case you need any specific inputs/ suggestions.

Thank You for your time and have a nice day!!

Ashish Harbhajanka

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