How To Fix 5U686 - Employee's start date not found while calculating termination date

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 5U - HR US: Messages

• Message number: 686

• Message text: Employee's start date not found while calculating termination date

Self-Explanatory Message

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Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 5U686 - Employee's start date not found while calculating termination date ?

  The SAP error message 5U686 ("Employee's start date not found while calculating termination date") typically occurs in the context of employee management, particularly when dealing with termination processes in the SAP Human Capital Management (HCM) module. This error indicates that the system is unable to find the employee's start date, which is necessary for calculating the termination date.
  Causes:
  
  Missing Start Date: The employee's start date may not have been entered in the system. This could happen if the employee record was not fully maintained.
  Incorrect Infotype Data: The relevant infotype (usually Infotype 0000 - Actions or Infotype 0001 - Organizational Assignment) may not have the correct data or may be missing.
  Data Inconsistency: There may be inconsistencies in the employee's data, such as incorrect date formats or missing records.
  Employee Status: The employee may not be in an active status, which could affect the availability of their start date.
  Configuration Issues: There may be configuration issues in the system that prevent the correct retrieval of the start date.
  
  Solutions:
  
  Check Employee Records: Verify that the employee's start date is correctly entered in the relevant infotypes (e.g., Infotype 0000 and Infotype 0001). If it is missing, enter the correct start date.
  Review Infotype Data: Ensure that all necessary infotypes are correctly filled out and that there are no gaps in the employee's history.
  Correct Data Entry: If there are any inconsistencies or errors in the data, correct them. This may involve checking date formats and ensuring that all required fields are populated.
  Employee Status Check: Ensure that the employee is in an active status and that their records are not locked or inactive.
  Consult Configuration: If the issue persists, consult with your SAP HCM configuration team to ensure that the system is set up correctly to handle employee start and termination dates.
  
  Related Information:
  
  Infotypes: Familiarize yourself with the relevant infotypes in SAP HCM, particularly Infotype 0000 (Actions) and Infotype 0001 (Organizational Assignment), as these are crucial for employee data management.
  SAP Notes: Check for any SAP Notes related to this error message, as they may provide additional insights or patches that could resolve the issue.
  User Authorization: Ensure that you have the necessary authorizations to view and edit employee records in SAP.
  Documentation: Refer to SAP documentation or user manuals for guidance on managing employee records and handling termination processes.
  
  If the problem continues after checking these areas, it may be beneficial to reach out to your SAP support team for further assistance.