> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bold-factory.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Work days, calendars, and shifts

> Understand how Bold models schedules, exceptions, and work cycles.

Work days, calendars, and shifts describe when an employee is expected to work.

They are used for capacity, assignments, expected time, and productivity analysis.

To distinguish expected availability from recorded work, see [Planned periods and tasks](/en/concepts/people/planned-periods-and-tasks).

## Concepts

| Concept | Usage |
| - | - |
| Work day | Template of work periods for a typical day. |
| Local calendar | Exceptions for holidays, closures, or special days. |
| Shift | Repeating cycle that applies work days over several days. |
| Assignment | Relationship between an employee and their work pattern. |

## Work day

A work day defines work periods. It can represent mornings, afternoons, nights, rest, or split shifts.

Use a period ending the following day for night shifts.

Periods within the same work day must not overlap. If the duration looks incorrect, check whether any period crosses midnight.

## Local calendar

A local calendar introduces exceptions: holidays, closures, special work days, or one-off changes.

Exceptions should be clear and take priority over the repeating pattern.

If a plant has different holidays, use a separate calendar. If a date shows a different work day, check whether a manual assignment has higher priority.

## Shifts

A shift defines a cycle. For example: five morning days, two rest days, and five afternoon days.

Each segment specifies which work day applies and how many consecutive days it lasts.

Each segment must last at least one day. The shift's start date determines how the cycle aligns with the calendar.

## Resolution priority

| Priority | Rule |
| - | - |
| 1 | Manual assignment or direct exception. |
| 2 | Local calendar. |
| 3 | Repeating shift pattern. |

## Related

* [Employees](/en/concepts/people/employees)
* [Planned periods and tasks](/en/concepts/people/planned-periods-and-tasks)
* [Configure schedules and shifts](/en/guides/people/configure-employee-schedules)


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