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Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2025-09-19
Steps: Set Up Buy Time Off

Steps: Set Up Buy Time Off

Security:
Buy Time Off
 domain in the Time Off and Leave functional area.
You can set up Buy Time Off to enable workers to buy time off when needed and to pay off the purchased time off in 1 or more pay periods using the
Buy Time Off
 task. You can configure the:
  • Time period when workers can buy time offs.
  • Maximum quantity of time off that workers can buy.
  • Period in which the maximum quantity of time off applies.
  • Allowable time off increments for workers to buy.
  • Time when worker’s time off balance is updated.
  • Time when payroll adjustments start and end.
  • Pay rate to use for payroll adjustments.
You can configure multiple time frames on a buy schedule. You must set up separate accruals for buying and accruing time offs.
When you configure time offs for buying:
  • Managers and administrators can’t buy time off on behalf of workers.
  • You can't add accruals configured for buying time off with position-based time off plans.
  • You can't use manual pay inputs.
  1. Set up the accrual for buying.
  2. Access the
    Create Time Off Plan
     or
    Edit Time Off Plan
     task to link the accrual you created to a time off plan on the
    Accrual
     tab.
    This accrual must have either
    Start of Period
     or
    End of Period
     for the
    Accrual Frequency Method
    .
    Additionally, you can add regular accruals to the time off plan.
  3. Access the
    Create Schedule for Buying Time Off
     task.
    1. The period schedule you select must match the period schedule on the time off plan that is associated with the accrual.
    2. Define 1 or more time periods for workers to buy time off. Consider:
      • Selecting dates based on the time zone for the worker.
      • When you select a period from the
        Updated Balance in Period
         prompt, Workday derives the exact date when the time off bought is updated either from the
        Accrual Frequency Method
         defined on the time off plan or on the
        Time Off Plan Overrides
         tab of the accrual when you configure a time off plan override.
      • A date range to derive the pay periods in which payroll adjustments, either deductions or negative earnings, for time off bought are made from the
        Start Payroll Adjustments on
         and the
        End Payroll Adjustments on
         prompts.
      A buy schedule must be linked to an accrual to enable workers to buy time off during fixed periods.
    1. Select
      Time Off and Leave
       as the functional area and
      Buy Time Off
       as the business process.
    2. Edit permissions to determine the security groups:
      • For the Buy Time Off initiating action.
      • That can view all, approve, cancel, rescind, and deny buy time off requests for workers.
  5. Edit Business Processes.
    1. Create a default definition for the
      Buy Time Off
       business process.
    2. (Optional) To dynamically generate editable documents when workers buy time off, add a
      Generate Document
       action step to the
      Buy Time Off
       business process. See Steps: Set Up Document Generation for Absence Business Processes.
  6. (Optional) Set Up Worklets.
    Add the
    Buy Time Off
     task to 1 or both of these worklets:
    • Absence
    • Time Off
  7. (Optional) Access the
    Configure Profile Group
     task.
    1. From the
      Profile Group
       prompt, select
      Time Off for Worker Profile
      .
    2. In the
      Report
       column in the grid, select
      Time Off Bought
       to display the
      Time Off Bought
       tab on the worker profile.
  8. Create a custom label for buy time off.
Workers can buy time off when they access the
Buy Time Off
 task from the:
  • Absence
     or
    Time Off
     worklets.
  • Time and Absence
     related actions of their worker profile.
  • Time Off Balance
     and
    Time Off Bought
     tabs on the
    Time Off
     section of their worker profile.
  • Actions menu on the
    Manage Absence
     report.
They can also access the task on their mobile devices (Android, iPhone, and iPad) from their worker profile:
  • Time and Absence
     related actions menu.
  • Time Off Bought
     tab on the
    Time Off
     section.
You can review time offs bought by workers with the:
  • Maintain Accrual and Time Off Adjustments/Overrides
     task.
  • Time Off Bought by Workers
     report.