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Information for Administrators / Approvers

Information for Administrators / Approvers

This page provides information for employees fulfilling the role of 'Approver',  or acting as an "Administrator"  for the ESS Online Timesheets system.
Below you will find information on Approver set-up, the steps to be followed when approving timesheets online as Approver 1 and Approver 2, payroll deadlines and Quick Guides for Approvers.

Information for Administrators

Information for Administrators

Administrator Set-Up

Administrators are nominated by Heads of School/Unit and submitted to UCD HR Operations using the Online Timesheets Approver Administrator Authorisation Form.

Once set up in the HR system under the relevant School or Unit, Administrators receive access to  Employee Self Service (ESS) to submit Hours, Items, or Ad Hoc Value Timesheets on behalf of claimants.

Administrator Login Instructions

Step 1: Go to the Employee Self Service (ESS) page and click the 'Employee Self Service' icon.

Step 2: Enter your UCD Connect username and password, then click Login.

Step 3: If you are experiencing issues, please refer to the troubleshooting guide available on the ESS home page

Administrator guide -Submit a timesheet on behalf of an employee 

Approver set-up

All approvers are nominated  by Heads of School & Units and notified annually to UCD HR Operations by completing theOnline Timesheets Approver Administrator Authorisation Form. Approvers are then set-up in the HR System within relevant School / Unit and receive relevant menu options within Employee Self Service (ESS) to approve timesheets. 

It is the responsibility of the School/Unit or relevant person to ensure that the list of School approvers is up to date. A list of approvers can be downloaded from Infohub and correctsions should be send to(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie

Approver log in and Process

  • Step 1: Go toESS Home Page& click the 'Employee Self Service Button'
  • Step 2: Type in your UCD Connect username (also known as Novell or Network username) and password & click login
  • Step 3: If you are having difficulties please refer to the trouble shooting guide on theESS Home Page

Please note My Hourly Timesheets on Employee Self-Service is not supported on mobile phones.

  • Step 1:  Once a Timesheet has been submitted to you, as Approver 1 you will receive an email stating that a timesheet has been submitted for approval
  • Step 2:  Login to ESS & Select My Hourly Timesheets from the menu on the left
  • Step 3:  Scroll down to the Approvals section to see timesheets waiting for approval
  • Step 4:  To view a particular time sheet click on View
  • Step 5:  Select the rate of pay from the dropdown menu
  • Step 6 : Select the cost centre / Research project account from the dropdown menu
  • Step 7: If you are rejecting the timesheet state a reason why
  • Step 8: Select ‘Approve’ or ‘Reject’ or ‘Save for later’ (as appropriate)

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

What Happens Next?

  • If Approver 1 approves a timesheet it then goes to Approver 2.

  • If Approver 1 rejects a timesheet it goes back to the claimant 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.

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 form

  • Step 1: Once a Timesheet has been submitted to you, as Approver 2 you will receive an email stating that a timesheet has been submitted for approval
  • Step 2: Login to ESS  & select My Hourly Timesheets Self Service
  • Step 3: Under Select  New  - a screen appears which shows claims which have been submitted and are waiting for approval.
  • Step 4: To view a particular time sheet click on View
  • Step 5: Confirm the details of the claim
  • Step 6: If the details are correct select ‘Approve’
  • Step 7: If the details are not correct state a reason why you are rejecting & ‘Reject’ the timesheet

Note:  In your absence you can select Timesheet Approver Nomination - SeeQuick Guide for Approver 2

What Happens Next?

  • If you approve a timesheet it goes to Finance / Payroll for payment processing.

  • If you wish to reject a timesheet you may choose to reject it back to either the claimant or Approver 1.
    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.

 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 form

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

  1. The position description they should choose when claiming e.g. Tutor_2010 or Occasional Lecturer_2010.  Once the relevant rate is applied this is the only rate that can be paid for all claims for similar work.
  2. The names of their Approver 1 and 2 in advance of the claim being made.
  3. 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
  4. In line with point 3 above, that hours claimed must reflect actual hours worked (excluding breaks).

Claims for work carried out on a Sunday should be completed on theSunday Premium (Hourly Paid Form). The premium is Time and a Quarter and applies to rates of pay which do not have a full time equivalent.

  1. Check that Claimants have selected the correct rate. If claimants select the incorrect rate, the timesheets should be rejected.
  2. 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 as either 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.
  3. 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.

Below you'll find a brief description of the many roles covered by this policy. Further details to follow in due course.

Student Based Roles:

Student based roles are described as roles that require registered students to support an event or provide a peer support service to current or prospective students.

As part of the hourly paid project, a selection of these roles are participating in a pilot with Unijobs (Public sector recruitment agency)

The engagement of these Student based roles and policies and procedures relating to this work, form part of the ongoing Hourly paid project.

Invigilation Roles:

Examination invigilators (supervisors) are responsible for ensuring that the examinations are conducted in accordance with UCD procedures by making sure that students comply with the Examination Regulations and supporting students during examinations.

As part of the hourly paid project, a selection of these roles are participating in a pilot with Unijobs (Public sector recruitment agency)

Teaching roles

The teaching workstream has a number of hourly paid employees who are currently delivering a mixture of ad-hoc teaching activities that are essential to the operation of the University. These activities are currently under the teaching workstream of the hourly paid project and are currently being reviewed. 

It is intended to publish revised Tutor and Demonstrator contracts by the end of the year and also consider the deployment of Occasional Lecturer contracts. 

Research Related Roles:

The Research category includes individuals engaged in research activity across the University. This covers a range of roles such as researchers, research support staff, occasional lecturers, tutors, and academic or teaching assistants. These staff can be employed on casual/ hourly-paid depending on the structure and duration of the project.

'Other' Category:

The Other Support category refers to individuals working in a range of professional, service, and technical roles that fall outside the above categories.

All Schools and Units must make sure that hourly paid staff understand and follow the rules below:

Breaks

  • If working more than 4.5 hours, employees must take a 15-minute paid break.
  • If working more than 6 hours, they must take a 30-minute unpaid break, which can include the 15-minute break.
  • Claimed hours must reflect actual hours worked, excluding breaks.

Sunday Work

  • Claims for work on a Sunday must be submitted using the Sunday Premium Form (available in the Forms A-Z).
  • The Sunday rate is Time and a Quarter and applies only where there is no full-time equivalent role.

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)