---
title: "How do I set up working pattern days using the work patterns wizard?"
slug: "how-do-i-set-up-working-pattern-days-using-the-work-patterns-wizard"
updated: 2026-06-10T11:23:01Z
published: 2026-06-10T11:23:01Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/how-do-i-set-up-working-pattern-days-using-the-work-patterns-wizard"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How do I set up working pattern days using the work patterns wizard?

Within **Cintra iQ**, **Work Patterns** are used to define the days or part days of the working week that are standard working days for an employee or a post. They can be used to define the **Full Time Equivalent (FTE)** of an employee, which can be used to pro-rate salary and/or additional payments or allowances. They are also used to enable accurate reporting of employee absence, which can be related to such payments as **Occupational Pay** and **Statutory Sick Pay**.

Before you can assign a work pattern to an employee, the working pattern days must be set up using the **Work Patterns Wizard**. You can also set up working pattern days by copying and updating an existing pattern. This is useful if you want to create a new working pattern, have few details to change and do not want to create all new data.

## Setting up working pattern days

### Work Pattern Summary

1. Navigate to the **Work Pattern** records.
  - Go to **Cintra iQ**: Employer Settings > Work Patterns > Navigator
2. Right-click: **New**. The **Insert Work Patterns Wizard** appears.
3. Enter the **Work Pattern** Name.
4. Enter its **Description**.
  - The Work Pattern Name and Description are displayed in the Navigator, and therefore should be unique.
5. Select the desired **Access Level**.
6. Enter the **Sync Start Date**.
  - The Sync Start Date field is mandatory to ensure that the days in your pattern reflect the correct date of the week. This date needs to be before the start of any records for which you are likely to take on historical data, such as sickness data. A useful date is 01/10/1900 as this date happens to be a Monday.
7. Click the **Next** button. The **Work Pattern Detail** window appears.
8. Enter the **Full Time Hours**, if necessary.

### Work Pattern Day Details

1. Right-click **New** in the **Work Pattern Details** pane. The **Insert Work Pattern Day** form appears.
2. Enter the **Sequence**.
3. Enter the **Start Time**.
4. Enter the **End Time**.
5. Enter the **Break Length** within the day's pattern.
6. Identify if the day is either of the following:
  - If either option is selected, the System identifies the day as a work day by the letter Y under the column Worked.
  - **Work Day**: Select this option if the working day is a full day.
  - **Half Day**: Is the working day a half day?
7. Click the **OK** button. The record appears in the **Work Pattern Details** pane.
8. Continue to create the appropriate work patterns for each day of the week.
9. **Inserting Non-work Days**: Continue to enter the sequence value you wish the non-work day to appear in the Work Pattern Days list, then click the OK button.
  - The System identifies the day as a non-work day by the letter N under the column Worked in the Work Pattern Days pane.
10. Click the **Finish** button when done.

Alternatively, fill in the form, do not select the **Working Day** or **Half Day** options and save. Again the **System** identifies the day as a non-work day by the letter **N** under the column **Worked** in the **Work Pattern Details** pane.

## Copying and updating working pattern days

1. Navigate to the **Work Pattern** records. Go to **Cintra iQ**: Employer Settings > Work Patterns > Navigator
2. Right-click: **Copy**. The **Copy Work** Pattern form appears.
3. Enter the **New Work Pattern** title.
4. Update the **Description**, if necessary.
5. Click the **OK** button. The new work pattern record is now available in the **Navigator**.
6. Highlight the new record and go to **Forms > Work Pattern Details**.
7. Continue to update the **Work Pattern Details** form where necessary.