Labor Code Numbering

After you decide to use labor codes, you need to decide on the labor code numbering structure.

Labor codes should be as detailed as necessary to obtain meaningful information on project management reports. At the same time, you should keep labor codes simple so employees complete their timesheets accurately and on time.

Numbering Format

You can set up labor codes with a maximum of five levels. You specify each level's character length, up to a total labor code length (all levels) of 14 characters. If you do not want to use labor codes, set your firm-wide length to 0 (zero) during installation or from the Key Format utility.

  • The labor code structure you set up applies to all projects, and cannot be changed on a per-project basis.
  • If you set up multiple labor code levels, the value of each lower level is independent and can be used with other higher level labor code values. For example, if you set up a level one Department and a level two Activity, and then set up a value for the Activity level of General Activity, the level two Activity value, General Activity, can apply to multiple level one departments.
  • You may want to use letters in your labor codes to indicate broader groups (for example, departments) and numbers for more narrow groups (for example, services).
  • You can include a general category for each level of your labor codes. This category is useful for charging time to overhead projects and for budgeting and historical purposes.

Examples

For example, you may use a two level code, in which the first character represents department, and the second and third characters (2nd level) represent activity. In this example:
  • Department codes are A-Architecture and E-Engineering
  • Activity codes include 04-Design Development and 09-Survey

By putting these codes together, you can identify a labor charge by department and activity:

Code Meaning

A04

Architectural Department/Design Development

E09

Engineering Department/Survey

E04

Engineering Department/Design Development

Here are two examples of a three-level labor code structure, with a total character length of five.

Label Number of Digits Example 1 Example 2
Department 1 A Architectural E Environmental
Staff 2 01 Principal 04 Technical
Service 2 63 Model Construction 58 Hydrogeologic Survey
Total labor code 5 A0163

Architectural/Principal/Model Construction

E0458

Environmental/Technical/Hydrogeologic Survey