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Information for Administrators

Page updated 12 August 2022

This page provides information for staff fulfilling the role of 'administrator' for the ESS Online Timesheets system.

Administrator set-up

All Administrators are nominated by Heads of School & Units and notified annually to UCD HR Operations by completing the Online Timesheets Approver Administrator Authorisation Form

Administrators are then set-up in the HR system within relevant school / unit and receive access to the Employee Self Service (ESS) to submit Hours, Items or Ad hoc value timesheets on behalf of claimants.

Administrator log in

  •  Step 1:  Go to & click the 'Employee Self Service' icon.
  •  Step 2:  Type in your UCD Connect username and password & click login.
  •  Step 3:  If you are having difficulties please refer to the trouble shooting guide on the ESS Home Page

Inputting timesheets

  • Step 1:  Login to ESS and on the menu on the left click on 'My Hourly Timesheets'.
  • Step 2:  In the Admin Timesheets section click 'ADD' to open a new timesheet, and complete the timesheet under the section 'Value Based Claim'.  Using the dropdown menu for Other Work, select 'ESS Value Timesheet'.
  • Step 3:  Complete Date, description and amount.  The Module Code section is optional.
  • Step 4:  Select 'Approver 1' and 'Approver 2' from the dropdown menu.  Approver 1 will select the relevant cost centre. (Note An Administrator can also act as Approver 1)
  • Step 5:  Include comments if applicable.  If you are satisfied to submit the timesheet, tick the box beside Declaration and Submit Timesheet.  Alternatively, if you wish to include further information at a later date and do not wish to submit the timesheet, select Save for Later.      

Note:  In your absence you can select Timesheet Approver Nomination - See Quick Guide for Approver 1

What Happens Next?

  • Approver 1 will receive an email stating that a timesheet has been submitted for approval
  • If Approver 1 approves a timesheet it then goes to Approver 2 for further approval
  • If Approver 1 rejects a timesheet it goes back to the administrator who will need to resubmit

Note:  If a claim is rejected by Finance / Payroll the timesheet goes back to Approver 2, who then must decide if it should be returned to the claimant or to Approver 1. The claim must be resubmitted by Approver 2 as per the current deadline in order to be paid in that payroll run.

If Approver 2 rejects the timesheet back to the claimant, both the claimant and Approver 1 are notified that the claim has been rejected back to the claimant.  Approver 1 can still see the timesheet but it has a status of rejected.  Once the claimant edits and resubmits the timesheet the status goes to re-submitted and Approver 1 can approve it again.

Hourly Timesheets Summary

The Screen shows a summary of timesheets submitted and what stage they are at:

  • New (timesheets with of Status of Submitted)
  • Rejected by finance
  • Historic/previously approved claims
  • Approver nomination – see Quick Guide for Approver 1

Roles & Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of all Schools/Units to ensure that all claimants are informed of:

  • That Legislation requires UCD to ensure that the appropriate breaks are taken by all employees during their hours of work.  The general rules on this are that an employee must take a paid break of 15 minutes after a 4.5 hour work period.  If working more than 6 hours, an unpaid break of 30 minutes should be taken, which can include the 15 minute break.
  • Hours claimed must reflect actual hours worked (excluding breaks).
  • Claims for work carried out on a Sunday should be completed on the Sunday Premium (Hourly Paid Form) www.ucd.ie/hr/forms. The premium is Time and a Quarter and applies to rates of pay which do not have a full time equivalent.

It is the responsibility of the Administrators to ensure that:

  • There is authorisation from the Head of School / Unit to process payment.
  • For Research Funded Claims where staff are chargeable to research accounts the following conditions should be observed:
    • The Principal Investigator (grant-holder) must be set up either as Approver 1 or Approver 2.
    • There should be sufficient budget available in the research account to fund the ESS timesheet.
    • Where the pay costs exceed €3,000 Approver 1 or 2 should always contact the Research Finance Office (rfo@ucd.ie) for additional off-line approval before completing the process.
  • All hours worked and the taking of breaks is in line with legislation.  UCD HR/Payroll are not responsible for monitoring this on a consistent basis.  However, we do carry out spot checks and claims in breach of legislation will be rejected and payment not processed.

Deadlines for Set-up / Payment

Hourly Set-up Form deadline to HR

Deadline for submission of Hourly Set up Forms to HR to ensure timely set up on the HR system.

      Month

     Deadline

February 2024

Tuesday, 1st February

March 2024

Friday, 1st March

April 2024

Tuesday, 2nd April

May 2024

Wednesday, 1st May

June 2024

Tuesday, 4th June

July 2024

Monday, 1st July

Submitting a timesheet (monthly)

(Online) Deadline for ESS timesheets to be approved by Approver 2 to ensure payment.

      Month

     Approver 2 Deadline

February 2024

Thursday, 15th February

March 2024

Tuesday, 12th March *

April 2024

Monday, 15th April

May 2024

Thursday, 16th May

June 2024

Thursday, 13th June

 July 2024

Tuesday, 16th July

* Earlier deadline due to St. Patrick's Day, Good Friday & Easter Monday

Timesheets are released to Payroll at 5:00pm on the Approver 2 deadline date.

Please note: Any timesheets approved by Approver 2 after this time will not be paid until the following month.

(Offline) Deadline for submission of manual claim form to HR to ensure payment

      Month

     Deadline

February 2024

Tuesday, 1st February

March 2024

Friday, 1st March

April 2024

Tuesday, 2nd April

May 2024

Wednesday, 1st May

June 2024

Tuesday, 4th June

July 2024

Monday, 1st July

Submitting a timesheet (weekly)

Thursdays at 5.00 pm each week.

For Public Holidays, Easter. etc. the deadline is 5.00 pm on Wednesday.

Contact the HR Helpdesk

The HR Helpdesk is the primary point of contact for all your employment-related queries by email and telephone.  We are here to help you with any queries on employee benefits, terms & conditions and HR policies & procedures. If we can’t help you directly we will refer your query to a HR specialist area.

All visitors to UCD HR, Roebuck offices should be by appointment only and arrangements to be made with specific HR staff members.

(opens in a new window)hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie

353-1-716-4900

UCD HR
Roebuck Offices,
UCD Belfield Campus.

UCD Human Resources

Roebuck Offices, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 4900 | E: hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie | Location Map(opens in a new window)