This checklist walks you through every setup step in the order you should complete them. Work from top to bottom and your scheduling system will be ready for your team.

The checklist

  1. Set your time zone
    • Open Settings from your profile menu, expand Preferences, and pick your company's time zone from the Time Zone dropdown.
    • Save. All shift times and punch records render in this time zone.
  2. Set up qualifications
    • In Settings, expand Qualifications/Position.
    • Create the position types your company uses (EMT, Paramedic, Driver, Officer, etc.).
  3. Set up divisions
    • In Settings, expand Divisions/Regions and click Add Division.
    • If your company only has one division, create a single item labeled "Main".
  4. Set up stations (Stations/Posts)
    • In Settings, expand Stations/Posts and click Add Location.
    • Assign each station to a division and enter the phone number and address.
  5. Set up resources
    • In Settings, expand Resources/Units.
    • First add your Resource Types (Ambulance, Engine, Wheelchair Van, etc.) in the nested section.
    • Then click Add Resource to create each specific unit and tie it to a type, division, and station.
  6. Create shift rotations
    • In Settings, expand Rotations.
    • Define the rotation pattern by ticking the days the crew works, across however many weeks the rotation covers. Start dates must be a Sunday.
  7. Add employees and assign roles and qualifications
    • Go to Employee Management and click Add Employee for each crew member.
    • Pick their Roles, Qualifications, and Pay Type (Hourly or Salary). Existing Unified Solutions accounts are linked to your company automatically.
  8. Create shift templates
    • Go to Admin Scheduling and click Templates.
    • Create templates tied to a rotation, division, location, and resource; add shift slots with required qualifications.
    • The templates auto-generate recurring shifts on the calendar.
  9. Configure pay periods
    • In Settings, expand Preferences, then Pay Periods.
    • Pick your Pay-Period Frequency (Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Semi-Monthly, or Monthly) and a Pay-Period Start Date.
    • Save, then click Generate Pay Periods to seed periods for the next two years.
  10. Configure the punch clock
    • In Settings, expand Preferences, then Punch Clock.
    • Decide whether to allow punching without a scheduled shift.
    • Set the early punch-in, late punch-in, and late punch-out comment thresholds.
    • Optionally restrict punching to specific IPs and list them in the Allowed IP Addresses section.
  11. Set up time-off types and policies
    • Open Settings and switch to the Time-Off sub-nav.
    • In Time Off Types, create your types (Vacation, Sick, Personal, etc.).
    • In Time Off Policies, configure accrual so balances update automatically.
  12. Build your first schedule
    • Use Admin Scheduling to adjust auto-generated shifts or add one-off shifts by hand.
  13. Have your team sign in and check
    • Each person opens My Schedule to see their shifts.
    • Have them try the punch clock and check their time-off balances.
    • Confirm everything looks correct before you go live.

After go live

After your first scheduled shift, review punch records and time-off balances. If rotations, pay periods, or punch settings need adjusting, update them in Settings and have your team verify again.