The Users menu includes several options including creating a user in the system, establishing groups that will be linked into group chains (aka workflows), API Access Tokens for third-party integration and duplicate user/employee relations..

Users

Role: For users with District Manager or Admin role. NOTE: District Manager role cannot create a user with Admin role.

A "user" is a person that the software is designed for and is using it.   ESS users are assigned one or more roles.  The roles assigned to the user determines the access that user will have in the ESS system. Please refer to ESS Roles Crosswalk under More Information on Users for the list of available Roles in ESS and their Kiosk counterpart.

Create a User

An ESS user account may be created via the User menu or a user may self-register via the login screen by clicking on Register User. The username entered when creating the user account is the username used when logging into Employee Self Service.

1. From the Users menu, select 'Users'.

2. Click

   1. Enter/Select desired user information. Field denoted with a ^. are required fields.

      1. If the user account being created is for an employee of the district, select the employee by clicking on the drop down arrow under ‘Select Employee’ or enter a name to start filtering on an employee. Once selected it will auto-populate full name and email address from the USPS Employee record. (Primary email address from USPS is pulled by default.)

      2. If user is using Active Directory, enter their active directory username in the ‘Username’ field. Also check the ‘External Authentication’ box.

      3. If user is using DUO or miniOrange, check the ‘Two Factor Authentication’ box.

      4. If the user needs to be synced with Absence Management, check the ‘Sync to Absence Management’ box.

      5. Password Expiration date and time is automatically set when the ‘change password’ option is used.

      6. The ‘User’ role will be added by default. If additional roles need to be added to the user, click on the dropdown to select additional role(s). User Roles are defined under ESS/Kiosk Roles Crosswalk under ‘More Information on Users’

3. Click on to create the user or to cancel out of the window without saving changes.

Users Grid Options

The User grid allows users to search for existing accounts by clicking in the filter row in the grid columns and entering the desired information. The user may use the morebutton to add or remove columns from the grid.

• view entire user record.

• edit a user record

• change a user’s existing password. NOTE: This password option can only be used for local or Two Factor authentication. If you are set up for external authentication, please contact your AD manager.

  

• deletes a user account.  If a user is part of a group/group chain and/or has leave requests entered in the system, their user account cannot be deleted. However, their account may be disabled by unchecking the ‘enabled’ box

• User accounts can only be locked via the grid by selecting one or more user accounts and clicking . Locking a user will prevent them from logging into the application. Only a user with Admin or District Manager role can unlock a user’s account.

• User accounts can only be unlocked via the grid by selecting one or more user accounts and clicking. Only a user with Admin or District Manager role can unlock a user’s account.

• Bulk Reset Passwords: Allows mass reset of passwords for selected users. Checkmark specific users or use the top checkbox to select all users based on the filter you entered. A pop-up window appears with a grid listing the selected users and when their passwords are set to expire (if applicable). Click ‘Confirm’ to reset their passwords. The Password Expiration date and time will auto-populate in the User’s account forcing the user to reset their password at the ESS login page (by selecting the ‘Forgot Password’ option).

• Export Grid Items: Checkmark specific users or use the top checkbox to select all users based on the filter you entered. Click to generate a CSV formatted spreadsheet based on the users you filtered.  For more information on updating user information via a spreadsheet, please refer to the System>Mass Load option.

Groups

Groups are made up of users within the ESS system who are responsible for approving and/or receiving notification of a leave request or Timesheet. Once a group is created, it can be added to a Group Chain.

Leave Request Groups

Role: For users with Leave Approval Workflow Manager, District Manager or Admin role.

Create a Leave Request Group

From User>Groups, ensure ‘Leave Request’ is selected

1. click . Fields denoted with a ^. are required fields.

2. Name: Enter the desired name of the Group and description.

3. Select And/Or:

   1. AND requires all Approver Group Member Types to approve the leave request

   2. OR requires only 1 Approver member to approve the leave request

4. Select the group members to be included. The list to choose from will include active ESS users as well as two unique users:

   1. Supervisor will automatically include the supervisor listed on the user's USPS Position record.

   2. Manager will automatically include users with Leave Manager role in ESS.

   3. NOTE: When adding a Supervisor or Manager group member to a Group, you must use OR option otherwise, it will attempt to flow to ALL supervisors or managers instead of the one specific to this position.

5. Once a member is selected, click Add to add the member to the grid. It will display their Username, Name and allow you to select their access to the group.

   1. Approver: member is an approver and will be sent an email notification when the leave request needs approval

   2. Read-only Access: member is not an approver but is allowed to view the leave request.

   3. Read-only Access with Notifications: member is not an approver but will be sent an email notification when a leave request is awaiting approval.

6. Click on to create the leave request group or to cancel out of the window without saving changes.

Leave Request Groups Grid Options

The Groups grid allows the user to filter group information by clicking in the filter row in the grid columns and entering in the desired search query

• view entire group record. When viewing a group, you have the option to ‘edit’ the group or ‘copy to timesheets’ to copy the leave request group record to a timesheet group record.

• edit a group record. Editing will allow you to add/remove members or update group member type to an existing group.

• copies the leave request group record to a timesheet group record.

• delete a group record.  NOTE: If the group is attached to a Group Chain, you will not be able to delete the group.

Timesheet Groups

Timesheet Groups are made up of users within the ESS system who are responsible for approving and/or receiving notification of a submitted timesheet. Once a group is created, it can be added to a Timesheet Group Chain.

Role: For users with Timesheet Manager, District Manager or Admin role.

Create a Timesheet Group

From User>Groups, ensure Timesheet is selected

1. click . Fields denoted with a ^. are required fields.

2. Name: Enter the desired name of the Group and description.

3. Select And/Or:

   1. AND requires all Approver Group Member Types to approve the timesheet

   2. OR requires only 1 Approver member to approve the timesheet

4. Select the group members to be included. The list to choose from will include active ESS users as well as two unique users:

   1. Supervisor will automatically include the supervisor listed on the user's USPS Position record.

   2. Manager will automatically include users with Leave Manager role in ESS.

   3. NOTE: When adding a Supervisor or Manager group member to a Group, you must use OR option, otherwise, it will attempt to flow to ALL supervisors or managers instead of the one specific to this position.

5. Once a member is selected, click Add to add the member to the grid. It will display their Username, Name and allow you to select their access to the group.

   1. Approver: member is an approver and will be sent an email notification when the timesheet needs approval

   2. Read-only Access: member is not an approver but is allowed to view the timesheet.

   3. Read-only Access with Notifications: member is not an approver but will be sent an email notification when a timesheet is awaiting approval.

6. Click on to create the group or to cancel out of the window without saving changes.

Timesheet Groups Grid Options

The Groups grid allows the user to filter group information by clicking in the filter row in the grid columns and entering in the desired search query

• view entire group record. When viewing a group, you have the option to ‘edit’ the group or ‘copy to leave requests’ to copy the timesheet group record to a leave request group record.

• edit a group record. Editing will allow you to add/remove members or update group member type to an existing group.

• copies the timesheet group record to a leave request group record

• delete a group record.  NOTE: If the group is attached to a Group Chain, you will not be able to delete the group.

Group Chains

A Group Chain defines the leave or timesheet approval workflow by linking selected (approver) Groups with specified employees, groups, departments, etc. that are included in the workflow.

Leave Request Group Chains

Role: For users with Leave Approval Workflow Manager, District Manager or Admin role.

Create a Leave Request Group Chain

From User>Groups Chains, ensure Leave Request is selected:

1. click . Fields denoted with a ^. are required fields.

2. Name: Enter the desired name of the Group Chain and description.

3. Priority: Must be specified to determine the order of the workflow for each group chain. If two or more groups have the same priority number, it then goes in alphabetical order based on the chain name.

4. Select and drag Available (Approval) Groups from the left to the right (Selected) groups area.

5. Once the approval groups are in the proper order, select the

6. Specific Leave Types you want included in the group chain. If left blank, all leave types will be included:

7. You have the option of including one or more of the following to be included in the workflow:

• Specific Employees and Positions:

• Specific Pay Groups

• Specific Departments Codes

• Specific Building Codes

• Specific Sub Category (leave type sub categories)

7. Once the group chain is set, click ‘Create’ to save it and it will be added to the Group Chains grid.

Leave Request Group Chain Grid Options

The Groups Chain grid allows the user to filter group chain information by clicking in the filter row in the grid columns and entering in the desired search query. The user may also use the more button to add or remove columns from the grid.

• view entire group chain record. When viewing a group chain, you have the option to ‘edit’ the group chain, 'copy to timesheets’ to copy the leave request group chain record to a timesheet group chain record or click on matched employees to produce a grid of employees (and their positions) who fall under that group chain (aka workflow).

• edit a group chain. NOTE: If you edit the original settings of the group chain so that it is no longer applies to any outstanding leave requests tied to this group chain, you will receive an error message and the changes will not take place. Otherwise, if the edit was successful, it will restart the workflow on the leave request and the leave request’s approval trail will display ‘Group Chain Edited’.

• Matched Positions: Displays a grid of employees (and their positions) who fall under that group chain.

• or allow you to reorder the priority of the district existing workflows. Group priority can be shared (meaning you can assign the same priority number to multiple group chains. It will flow by priority first and then alphabetically by group chain name).

• copies the leave request group chain to a timesheet group chain

• delete a group chain.  If you attempt to delete a group chain that contain outstanding leave requests, if another applicable group chain exist (i.e. 'catch all' group chain), the workflow for the leave request will restart. Otherwise, you will receive an error message and you will not be able to delete the group chain.

Timesheet Group Chains

Role: For users with Timesheet Manager, District Manager or Admin role.

Create a Timesheet Group Chain

From User>Groups Chains, ensure Timesheet is selected:

1. click . Fields denoted with a ^. are required fields.

2. Name: Enter the desired name of the Group Chain and description.

3. Priority: Must be specified to determine the order of the workflow for each group chain. If two or more groups have the same priority number, it then goes in alphabetical order based on the chain name.

4. Select and drag Available (Approval) Groups from the left to the right (Selected) groups area.

5. Once the approval groups are in the proper order, select the Specific Timesheet Options you want included in the group chain. If left blank, all appointment types will be included:

6. You have the option of including one or more of the following to be included in the workflow:

• Specific Employees and Positions:

• Specific Pay Groups

• Specific Departments Codes

• Specific Building Codes

7. Once the group chain is set, click ‘Create’ to save it and it will be added to the Group Chains grid.

Timesheet Group Chain Grid Options

• view entire group chain record. When viewing a group chain, you have the option to ‘edit’ the group chain, 'copy to leave requests’ to copy the timesheet group chain record to a leave request group chain record or click on matched employees to produce a grid of employees (and their positions) who fall under that group chain (aka workflow).

• edit a group chain. NOTE: If you edit the original settings of the group chain so that it is no longer applies to any outstanding timesheets tied to this group chain, you will receive an error message and the changes will not take place. Otherwise, if the edit was successful, it will restart the workflow on the timesheet and the timesheet’s approval trail will display ‘Group Chain Edited’.

• Matched Positions: Displays a grid of employees (and their positions) who fall under that group chain.

• or allow you to reorder the priority of the district existing workflows. Group priority can be shared (meaning you can assign the same priority number to multiple group chains. It will flow by priority first and then alphabetically by group chain name.)

• copies the timesheet group chain to a leave request group chain

• delete a group chain.  If you attempt to delete a group chain that contain outstanding timesheets, if another applicable group chain exist (i.e. 'catch all' group chain), the workflow for the timesheet will restart. Otherwise, you will receive an error message and you will not be able to delete the group chain.

API Access Token

API Access Tokens inform the API that the bearer of the token is authorized to access ESS.  It requires an existing ESS user account who needs to integrate with ESS identifying the user (third party) using the application. 

Role: For users with District Manager or Admin role.

Creating an API Access Token

1. From User>API Access token, click .

2. Created by, date and time will auto fill

3. Select the existing User account created for the third-party vendor along with a description.

4. Click to create the API Access Token or to cancel out of the window without saving changes.

Duplicate User/Employee Relations

The Duplicate Users/Employee Relations grid will displays any ESS users who have the same (USPS) employee number. You have the option to export the grid information to a spreadsheet via the ‘Export to CSV’ option.

Example: In the image above, both ESS usernames ‘testdupblevins’ and ‘rblevins’ reported using the same Employee Number (ANON349). To confirm, in the User grid, filter for both users and review their employee number. If they both have the same employee number, determine which user account has the correct number and update accordingly.

eview each user account

If the user is creating a new user the correct way and entering from the Create drop down option, then we should never need to use the duplicate user grid.

no two users can have the same usps employee assigned to them.

More Information on Users

Kiosk/ESS Roles Crosswalk

Users may be assigned one or more roles. All users by default will be assigned the ‘User’ role. Listed below are the available Roles in ESS, it’s Kiosk counterpart, definition and example of the role. Please refer to the ESS Menu Options by ESS Role document in the appendix for an overview of the menu options available to a user based on their ESS role(s).