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REACH > System Tools / Menus for Administrators

KEY TOPICS:

  • Settings
  • Evaluation Criteria
  • Activity Types
  • Job Families
  • Location Codes (Multiple Locations)
  • Plan Dates


Customize REACH, using Administrator Tools

The BALANCEhub Administrator may customize the REACH interface, by accessing the five BALANCEhub > System Tools > Reach menus, described in this article.

Settings

Using Reach / Settings, the Activities / Locations column header may be labeled to reflect the organizational unit that makes sense to an organization's BALANCEhub audiences. Enter a custom Location Name, and click the [Save] button.

This custom label will also replace the following instances of Location Code on the balanceAAP > REACH Assignment / Locations list:

  • The Location Code column header
  • The [Assign Locations] button

Example: A retail company applied the label of "Store" rather than "Location". Accordingly, the button to assign codes would be labeled: [Assign Store Codes].

Evaluation Criteria

The criteria used in performing REACH > Evaluations are stored under REACH / Evaluation Criteria. While this list will already contain the suggested regulatory language for use in evaluating Good Faith Efforts, the Administrator may add, edit, or delete an entry:

Add Criteria

Click the [Add] button to display a blank record at the bottom of the Evaluation Criteria list. Enter a Title. Then enter a question in the Description field. Click the [Save] icon.

Edit Criteria

Click the [Edit] icon to activate a current listing. Edit the Title or Description. Click the [Save] icon.

If the criteria is in use, a Notice will display: Click [OK]. Editing a Title or a Description will not affect the Evaluation score where an Evaluation has been performed and saved to the database.

Activity Types

A default list of REACH / Activity Types comes with the software. However, other Activity Types can be made available for selection, based on terminology or categories used in the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) or within the employer’s organization (e.g., Internal Outreach Effort, Job Fair Participant). Tools for developing and working with this list follow.

Activity Type, which is used to categorize REACH > Activities, is selected by the user when an Activity is added to the Activities list.

Add and Edit a Custom Activity Type

Click the [Add] button, which is located in the upper toolbar. Provide entries for Activity Type and Description. Click [Save] to update the Activity Type list.

An existing custom Activity Type can be updated, by clicking the corresponding [Edit] icon. Click [Save] after working in the record.

Note: Both Activity Type and Description will display for the user.

Display Active/Inactive Activity Types

If Activity Type has been associated with any record on the Activities list, that type will be displayed as Active. To display the Active column, check the box next to the tagline: Show Inactive Activity Types. A check mark will indicate an Activity Type is Active.

Job Families

REACH > Job Families may be developed, using the employer’s terminology, so they are available to the user; tools for working with this list are described below.

The user will assign Job Families to REACH > Activities, when the records are created.

Add a Job Family

Click on the [Add] button to display a blank record line at the bottom of the Job Families list. Provide entries for Job Family and Description. Then, click [Save]. Because both entries will display for users, entries should be as brief as possible.

Import Job Families

If job categories are available from the HRIS or other external source, they may be imported, most typically by using an Excel spreadsheet. Columns of data should represent:

  • Job Family
  • Description

Follow the guided prompts to bring in the data, similar to instructions below for: Import Location Codes.

Display Active/Inactive Job Families

When added, a Job Family is Active by default. To display the Active column for the Job Families list, check the box next to the tagline: Show Inactive Activity Types. A check mark will indicate a Job Family is Active.

To deactivate a Job Family so that it cannot be selected in the future, click the [Edit] icon, and uncheck the box under: Active. [Save] the update.

Note: If the Job Family has already been selected for an Activity in the database, that selection will remain in place.

The Job Family can be activated and deactivated at any time.

Delete a Job Family

If a Job Family is not in use for an Activity, it may be deleted. Click the [Delete] button for the Job Family; then click the [OK] button to confirm the deletion.

Location Codes (Master Plan)

Because REACH > Activities are tracked by particular establishments or company locations, the Administrator can manage a list of Location Codes (e.g., Store 53, TX 1). Location Codes will be used to tie GFE locations to the Affirmative Action plan structure in balanceAAP.

If your organization uses a Master Plan, in which sub-plans directly represent all locations, balanceAAP Plan Codes will suffice for Location Codes (see: Import Location Codes, below).

Quick Reminder: Any changes made here to REACH > System Tools / Location Codes will be reflected in the BALANCEaap > REACH Assignment / Location Code list.

Add a Location Code

Click the [Add] button to add a blank record line to the bottom of the Location Codes list. Enter Location Code and Description. Click the [Save] button.

Import Location Codes

From External File If Location Codes are available from the HRIS or other external source, they may be imported, most typically from an Excel spreadsheet. Columns of data should represent:

  • Location Code
  • Description

Initiate the process by clicking the [Import] button. Then choose File Type; Upload the file; and click [Next]. Follow the displayed prompts to select the data location, Preview the data, and proceed to choosing Import Options. Finally, click the [Import Locations] button.

From a balanceAAP Plan If Location Codes will be the same as Plan Codes in a Master Plan, click the [Import] button; then select Company, Establishment, and Plan. Click [Next], and follow the remaining prompts.

Display Inactive/Active Location Codes

To display the Active column for the Location Codes list, check the box next to the tagline: Show Inactive Activity Types. A check mark will indicate the Job Family is Active.

Delete a Location Code

Check the box to the left of a Location Code, then choose the [Delete] button from the upper toolbar.

Plan Dates

The evaluation periods for REACH > Activities are based on the Plan Dates stored here in REACH > Plan Dates. By managing Plan Dates, the Administrator can ensure the Evaluations / Evaluation Information menu is populated with the proper dates, so that users may select the one that applies. The Plan Date also links the REACH data to the appropriate balanceAAP plan.

Add a Plan Date

Select the [Add Plan Date] button from the upper toolbar. An empty record line will be added at the bottom of the Plan Dates list. Enter a two-digit month, a two-digit day, and a four-digit year. Then click [Save]. An added date is checked as Active by default.

Activate/Deactivate a Plan Date

An Active Plan Data, which can be selected by the user while creating Activities, will be checked in the Active column. To activate an inactive Plan Date, check the box in the Active column.

To deactivate a Plan Date so that it cannot be selected for new Activities, uncheck the box. The deactivated entry will remain on the Plan Dates list.

Plan Date is In Use

Once a REACH user selects a Plan Date, while performing an Evaluation of any REACH > Activities, the Plan Date will be checked here as: In Use.