How To Fix 5G256 - Earliest start date of absence could not be calculated

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 5G - HR: Messages for Britain

• Message number: 256

• Message text: Earliest start date of absence could not be calculated

What causes this issue?

Neither of the fields <ZK>Earliest start date </>(<ZK>from</> and <ZK>to
</>) are filled. (For Statutory Maternity Pay, these fields are named
<ZK>MPP start possible from</>).

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

These two fields give the earliest and latest start dates of the
statutory absence. They are filled automatically by your SAP system,
derived from dates already entered in the system.
Ensure all other relevant dates have been entered into the relevant
infotype <ZK>SMP/SAP/SPP GB </>(0088) subtype screens.
For example, in the case of Statutory Paternity Pay (adoption), the
earliest possible start date of paternity leave is autromatically set
from the expected or actual date of birth entered manually into the
infotype screen.

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 5G256 - Earliest start date of absence could not be calculated ?

  The SAP error message 5G256, which states "Earliest start date of absence could not be calculated," typically occurs in the context of absence management within the SAP Human Capital Management (HCM) module. This error indicates that the system is unable to determine the earliest possible start date for an absence request based on the employee's current status, entitlements, or other related data.
  Causes:
  
  Missing or Incomplete Data: The employee's master data may be incomplete or missing essential information, such as absence quotas, employment status, or relevant infotypes.
  Quota Issues: The absence quota for the employee may not be defined or may have expired, preventing the system from calculating a valid start date.
  Incorrect Configuration: There may be configuration issues in the absence management settings, such as rules for calculating absence dates or eligibility criteria.
  Time Evaluation Issues: If time evaluation has not been run or is not set up correctly, it may lead to discrepancies in the data required for absence calculations.
  Employee Status: The employee may be in a status that does not allow for the requested absence (e.g., inactive, on leave, etc.).
  
  Solutions:
  
  Check Employee Master Data: Ensure that the employee's master data is complete and accurate. Verify that all relevant infotypes (e.g., personal data, employment status, absence quotas) are correctly maintained.
  Review Absence Quotas: Check the absence quotas assigned to the employee. Ensure that they are valid and have not expired. If necessary, create or adjust quotas.
  Configuration Review: Review the configuration settings for absence management in the SAP system. Ensure that the rules for calculating absence dates are correctly defined.
  Run Time Evaluation: If applicable, run the time evaluation process to ensure that the system has the latest data regarding the employee's attendance and absence records.
  Check Employee Status: Verify the current status of the employee in the system. If the employee is inactive or on another type of leave, this may affect their ability to request a new absence.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Transaction Codes: You may need to use transaction codes such as PA20 (Display HR Master Data) or PA30 (Maintain HR Master Data) to check and update employee information.
  Infotypes: Common infotypes related to absence management include:
  
  Infotype 0001 (Organizational Assignment)
  Infotype 0002 (Personal Data)
  Infotype 2006 (Absences)
  Infotype 2001 (Absence Quotas)
  
  
  SAP Notes: Check for any relevant SAP Notes or documentation that may address specific issues related to this error message.
  
  If the issue persists after checking these areas, it may be beneficial to consult with your SAP support team or refer to SAP documentation for further troubleshooting steps.