We're excited to announce a significant upgrade to our compliance capabilities with the release of Compliance Rules: Block, Acknowledge, Warn!

This enhancement provides administrators with more granular control over time entry compliance, helping your firm reduce write-downs and improve time entry quality at the source.

This new feature replaces the previous binary "On/Off" toggle for compliance rules with a flexible four-tier enforcement model (Block, Acknowledge, Warn, Off) for each compliance rule.

Key Features & Enhancements

Four-Tier Enforcement Model: Each compliance rule can now be configured with one of four distinct enforcement levels:

• Block: Prevents timekeepers from releasing a time entry until all critical compliance issues are resolved. Clear, specific error messages guide timekeepers on what needs to be fixed.
• Acknowledge: Allows timekeepers to release entries with compliance issues after explicitly acknowledging the violation through a confirmation dialog. This applies to individual and batch releases on the Timesheet.
• Warn: Maintains current functionality, displaying visual indicators of compliance issues directly in the narrative box without preventing release.
• Off: Disables the specific rule, meaning it will not be checked during entry creation and no notifications or barriers will appear.

Granular Administrative Configuration: Administrators can now select the desired enforcement level for each compliance rule via a new dropdown menu in the compliance settings interface. Configuration options are available at the Customer, Client, or Matter level.

Hierarchical Control: Rules can be configured at Customer, Client, or Matter level, with more specific settings (e.g., Matter) overriding higher-level settings (e.g., Customer).

Seamless Rule Migration: All your existing compliance rules that were previously set to "On" will be automatically migrated to the "Warn" mode upon release, ensuring no disruption to your current workflows. Rules that were "Off" will remain "Off".

Why this matters to you

• Reduce Write-Downs: Proactively stop non-compliant time entries from affecting your firm's revenue by preventing their release from Laurel. This follows the same entry validation as missing codes.
• Enhance Time Entry Quality: Improve the accuracy and completeness of time entries directly at the point of creation, reducing downstream rework.
• Flexible Compliance: Tailor your compliance enforcement strategy to your firm's unique business needs, ensuring rules are applied with the appropriate level of strictness.
• Increased Administrator Control: Gain the precise control you need to manage your firm's billing policies effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is changing with compliance rules? A: We are replacing the simple "on/off" toggle for compliance rules with a new four-tier enforcement model: Block, Acknowledge, Warn, and Off. This gives you much more control over how strictly each rule is enforced.

Q: What do the new enforcement levels mean? A:

• Block: Prevents timekeepers from releasing an entry until the compliance issue is fixed.
• Acknowledge: Allows release after the timekeeper explicitly acknowledges the violation through a confirmation dialog.
• Warn: Displays a visual indicator of the violation but allows the timekeeper to release the entry without additional steps (current behavior).
• Off: The rule is not checked, and no notifications or barriers appear.

Q: How will my existing rules be affected? A: All your existing "On" rules will automatically be migrated to "Warn" mode, ensuring no disruption to your current workflow. Rules that were "Off" will remain "Off".

Q: Can I set different enforcement levels for different clients or matters? A: Yes, you can configure enforcement levels at the Customer, Client, or Matter level, with more specific settings overriding higher-level settings.

Q: Will this make time entry more difficult for my timekeepers? A: While stricter enforcement (Block, Acknowledge) might introduce new steps for non-compliant entries, it also ensures timekeepers receive clear guidance at the point of creation, helping them create accurate, billable entries that will have a higher likelihood of being paid. It helps reduce downstream issues and rework.