A balance-tracking plan requires the components necessary to define the calculation window, processing frequency, balance presentation, permitted request dates, measurement unit, balance additions, balance reductions, and worker eligibility. The balance period supplies the overall calculation range, while the period schedule establishes processing periods and accrual frequency. Balance visibility and calendar-display settings determine how balance information is presented.
Days to Include and Unit of Time control which dates contribute to requests and whether the plan processes hours or days. Accruals add units to the balance; time offs subtract units. Eligibility rules determine which workers can accrue and use the plan. Together, these elements form the minimum functional architecture of a balance-tracking time off plan.
Leave families, leave entitlements, and payroll-effect configurations belong primarily to leave-of-absence configuration and cannot replace time off plan components. A time off type categorizes the user-facing request but is associated with the underlying time off rather than serving as the complete plan architecture. A balance period and period schedule alone are insufficient because the plan would have no configured sources or uses of balance units.
Reference: Workday Education-Time Off Plans and Components, Time Off Plans with Balance Tracking