Automated Break Times

Automated Break Times helps you save time on scheduling by automatically assigning a meal break time to shifts that don't already have one set. Here's how it works:

When break times are automated

Residex will automatically set a break time for:

• Published shifts with no break time, including new shifts added to an already-published schedule.

Break times will NOT be automated for:

• Shifts that already have a break time set.
• Draft shifts. Break times are only assigned once a shift is published.
• Shifts where you've manually cleared the break time. Automation won't re-add one — unless you duplicate the shift, which creates a new shift (see Please note below).
• Shifts in culinary departments (not included in the beta).

How break times are chosen

When Residex assigns an automated break time, it considers several factors to keep your floor covered and break times staggered across similar shifts:

• Shift period: Morning, Daytime, or Night.
• Position: For example, CNA or MT.
• Shift duration: Break times target the middle of the shift (between 25–75% of the shift length).
• Existing break times on other shifts in the same shift period and position: So breaks stay staggered across similar shifts.
• Overlap avoidance when possible: The system staggers break times so people in the same role aren't all off the floor at once. For example, two AM Caregivers won't be given the same break time when a unique slot is available, but an AM Caregiver and an AM Med Tech can share a break time.
  • If there aren't enough unique slots for all shifts in the same role and shift period, some overlap will occur — this typically happens on larger teams, where added redundancy keeps the floor covered.
• 15-minute increments: Break times are set on the quarter hour (e.g., 10:00, 10:15, 10:30).

Where you'll see break time automation in Residex

On the shift form (Add Shift, Edit Shift):

A hint appears below the Break start time field to let you know whether automation will apply:

• If the field is empty, you'll see a message that a break time will be set automatically after you save.
• If the field is filled, you'll see a message confirming the break time you've entered will not be changed by automation.

In the publish dialog:

A callout appears when you publish a schedule, letting you know that any shifts without a break time will have one added automatically.

Please note

• Duplicating a shift can re-trigger automation. When you duplicate a shift, the copy is treated as a new shift. If it's published without a break time, automation will run on it — even if you had manually cleared the break time on the original shift.
• Break times may take a few minutes to appear. Automated break times are typically added within 2–3 minutes of publishing, but may take up to 10 minutes or longer during high-activity periods (for example, when multiple communities publish at the same time).
• You can see who set each break time. The shift history shows whether a break time was set by a user or by automation (labeled as "Residex"), so you can always trace where a break time came from.
• Culinary departments are not included. If you schedule across both care and culinary departments, only your care department shifts will have break times automated during the beta.

Opting out or sharing feedback

We're rolling this out to a small group first to make sure it works well before expanding to everyone. If your department would like to opt out of the beta, or if you have feedback to share, email support@residex.ai.