Oracle Cloud HCM 26C Deep Dive: Absence Plans and Absence Types in Redwood Experience
With Update 26C, Oracle Cloud HCM brings major configuration milestones to Absence Management by introducing the Redwood UI for Absence Types and Absence Plans setup. This release modernizes administrative maintenance, reorganizes classic tabs, deprecates legacy rules, and introduces conditional rule-building while aligning with Visual Builder Studio (VB Studio) business rules.
In this ACE contribution guide, we analyze what moved, what changed across each plan type's configuration screens, the underlying database footprint, known issues, and the pre-enablement checklist to review before enabling these Redwood setup pages.
🎥 Reference Materials & Session Walkthrough
This breakdown accompanies the Oracle Support walkthrough session: Watch Absence Types Redwood Experience Walkthrough and the official release notes: Oracle Readiness 26C: Absence Types Redwood Experience.
1. Enabling Redwood Setup Pages (Profile Options)
Both setup pages are delivered disabled by default. Administrators can activate them at the Site level using Manage Administrator Profile Values:
| Profile Option Code | Default | Target Setup Page & Description |
|---|---|---|
ORA_ANC_PLANS_VBCS_UI_ENABLED |
N | Enables the Redwood VBCS UI for Absence Plans configuration. |
ORA_ANC_TYPES_VBCS_UI_ENABLED |
N | Enables the Redwood VBCS UI for Absence Types configuration. |
2. Redwood Absence Plans: Architecture & Key Changes
The Redwood Absence Plan setup introduces dynamic field exposure—rule details and child parameters are revealed only when they functionally apply.
A. Navigation & Header Updates
- Basic Details moves into the plan header.
- History is now directly accessible from the Details tab.
B. Progressive Disclosure for Balance Dispositions
Balance disposition options now control when their related configuration fields appear:
- Rollover positive balance: When selected, the rollover rules section is enabled with: Rollover Rule, Rollover Limit, Rollover Target Plan, and Conversion Factor.
- Transfer positive balance: When selected, the transfer rules section is enabled with: Limit Rule, Limit, Limit Formula, Limit Proration Rule & Formula, Plan Category, and Target Plan Formula.
C. Intuitive Condition Builder for Accrual Matrices
The Add Accrual matrix now includes a more intuitive Condition Builder instead of the legacy expression builder to define criteria.
D. Entries and Balances Defaults
- Transfers and Adjustments options are unchecked by default.
- Year End Disbursements is disabled by default and has been moved under post rollover and carryover in the Year End Processing section of the Accruals tab.
3. Absence Plans: Configured Screens & Tabs by Plan Type
Across all absence plan types, Plan Attributes has been renamed to Details, and the legacy Additional Details tab has been reorganized and renamed to Event Processing where applicable. The available tabs and setup screens for each plan type in Redwood include:
| Plan Type | Configured Tabs / Screens in Redwood | Structural & Functional Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual |
|
Includes the new intuitive Condition Builder for matrix setup and Year End Disbursements under Year End Processing. |
| Compensatory |
|
Replaces the Accruals tab with Plan Rules for managing compensatory time earn/expiry logic and event updates. |
| Donation |
|
Streamlined layout for peer-to-peer or pool recipient ledgers, disposition rules, and event triggers. |
| Qualification |
|
Houses entitlement band matrices evaluated along rolling backward/forward or calendar term definitions. |
| Agreement |
|
Omits the Participation tab; configurations focus directly on agreement terms, entitlements, and balance tracking. |
| No Entitlement |
|
Pass-through setup for unpaid leaves routing rate reduction entries to payroll without an accrual matrix. |
4. Redwood Absence Types: What Deserves Immediate Attention in 26C
A. Splitting "Display Features" into Two Dedicated Tabs
In classic UI, attributes and rules were grouped under Display Features. In Redwood, these are split into two dedicated tabs:
- Display Features Tab: Consists of sections and attributes.
- Rules Tab: Consists of all the rules.
B. Supplemental Region → Single Display Value for "Additional Fields"
The legacy Supplemental region is removed and replaced by Additional Fields.
- Authorized Absence
- Authorization Status Update
- Blocked Leave Status
- Notification Date
- Condition Start Date
C. Entry Display Priority Checkbox
The classic Entry display order field is replaced by the Entry display priority checkbox. Enabling this checkbox prioritizes the absence type in the LOV, sorted alphabetically.
D. Maternity & Childbirth Placement Pattern Governance
Maternity fields will no longer be configured within Absence Type setup. When an absence pattern of Childbirth or placement is selected, these fields are automatically displayed and editable on the Redwood entry page for all three roles:
- Planned absence start date & end date
- Intend not to return to work
- Expected Date of Event & Actual Date of Event
- Matching date (when Event Type is configured as placement)
- Expected week of event
Action Required: In Redwood, previous type-level display controls for maternity fields are ignored. You must use Visual Builder Studio (VB Studio) business rules to configure display and edit properties.
E. Deprecated and Renamed Elements
- Renamed: Advanced absence entry is renamed to Detailed absence entry across both classic and Redwood (no functional impact).
- Deprecated Rule: Late notification evaluation rule is deprecated.
- Removed Fields: Late notification waived, Late notification, Late notification waiver date, Disease code, and Initial reporting organization are removed.
5. Technical Architecture: Database Tables (Zero Schema Disruption)
Underlying database tables remain unchanged between Classic and Redwood setups:
| Underlying Database Table | Functional Role & Content |
|---|---|
ANC_ABSENCE_PLANS_F |
Core setup parameters and definitions for absence plans. |
ANC_ACCRUAL_BANDS_F |
Accrual plan length-of-service and rate band configuration. |
ANC_PLAN_ELIG_PROFILES_F |
Eligibility profile linkages associated with absence plans. |
ANC_ENTL_BANDS_F / _DTL_F |
Qualification plan entitlement bands and banding detail definitions. |
ANC_ABSENCE_TYPES_F |
Absence type setup records defining entry parameters. |
ANC_ABSENCE_TYPE_REGIONS_F |
Display Features setup metadata and region configuration. |
ANC_ABS_TYPE_RGN_USAGES_F |
Absence type display region usages across user roles. |
ANC_ABS_USAGE_RULES_F |
Display features usage rules linked to specific types. |
6. Known Behaviors & Roadmap Notes (26D & 27A)
Tracked Behaviors to Keep in Mind:
- Conversion & Validation Formula Display (Fixed in 26D): In Redwood Absence Type setup, Conversion and Validation formulas appeared in Edit mode but did not reflect values in View mode. In 26D+, values remain consistently visible across View, Update, and Correct modes.
- Accrue On Field for Front-Loaded Plans (Fixed in 27A): In Redwood Absence Plan setup, the Accrue On field was visible in View mode for front-loaded accrual plans (despite being hidden in classic UI and update mode). In 27A+, this field is completely suppressed for front-loaded plans.
7. Five-Step Pre-Enablement Checklist for 26C
Before switching profile options in production environments, complete these validation milestones:
- Review High-Volume & Role-Specific Absence Types: Audit any absence type where Authorized Absence, Condition Start Date, or Notification Date had disparate settings between employee and manager roles.
- Configure VB Studio Business Rules for Maternity: If your organization uses Childbirth or placement absence patterns, define business rules in Visual Builder Studio to enforce appropriate field-level visibility and editability across roles before cutover.
- Audit Accrual Band Matrices: Check that condition logic in the new Condition Builder matches legacy Expression Builder configurations across all active accrual plans.
- Verify Rollover & Transfer Balance Dispositions: Confirm that target plans and proration rules correctly resolve under the new progressive disclosure toggles.
- Perform End-to-End Regression Testing: Run end-to-end tests covering entry, approval routing in Transaction Console, Fast Formula duration evaluation, and scheduled accrual runs (Calculate Accruals and Balances).
🎯 Conclusion & Takeaway
The 26C Redwood release delivers a streamlined, modern administration interface for Absence Plans and Types. By preparing VB Studio rules for maternity patterns early and understanding the single display value behavior for additional fields, functional leads can execute a seamless, zero-downtime transition to Redwood setup.
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