Shift definition behaviour
The shiftDefinition property appears in several collections. Where it comes from — and whether it appears at all — depends on the collection.
Absences, counters, and activity durations
The shiftDefinition property is linked to the record (absence, counter, or activity duration) unless the shift is inherited from the schedule.
Tip
When the shift comes from the schedule, shiftDefinition is not included in the response. It only appears when the shift is explicitly assigned to the record rather than inherited.
This applies to:
Calculated totals
The shift definition in calculated totals is determined by a priority waterfall:
- Schedule — the default shift assigned in the day program for that date.
- Rules or calculations — if the shift is modified by if…then rules or other calculation logic (e.g. overtime, exceptions), the modified shift takes precedence.
Important
The response does not distinguish where the shift came from. It reflects the final result after applying both levels of the waterfall.
See: Calculated totals reference
Paid presences
The shiftDefinition is optional. It appears when the paid presence is associated with a specific shift. When no shift is assigned, the field is omitted.
Paid presences can return multiple records for the same person and date when the presence is split across shifts.
Further reading
- Shift definitions reference — retrieve and look up shift definition records
- Delta synchronization — track changes when shift assignments are modified