This article explains which automation rule types let you control send timing, and how the "send if added late" catch-up window works. You need admin access to configure automations.
Which automation types let me set a send offset?
Send timing controls exist only for new hire rules and leave of absence rules. Birthday and work anniversary rules always fire on the day itself — there's no before/after option for those types, even if the picker looks like it might apply. If you're looking for offsets on a birthday or anniversary rule, they aren't available.
What timing options do new hire rules have?
New hire rules let you send the reward:
Before the person's start date, by a chosen number of days (minimum 1).
On the start date.
After the start date, by a chosen number of days (minimum 1).
What timing options do leave of absence rules have?
Leave of absence rules let you send the reward before, on, or after the person's leave start date, using the same day-count pattern as new hire rules.
What is the "send if added late" grace toggle?
It's a catch-up window that covers people added to PerkUp after their relevant date (start date or leave start date) has already passed — for example, if an HRIS sync lags a few days. When enabled, PerkUp still sends the reward within a fixed window instead of skipping it:
If timing is set to before the date, the catch-up window is your configured number of days plus 2.
If timing is set to after or on the date, the catch-up window is 5 days.
These are fixed presets — you can't enter a custom number of catch-up days.
Can I set a custom number of days instead of these presets?
The day count for before/after timing is a free number (minimum 1 day), but the "send if added late" grace window itself is not customizable — it's always days+2 for "before" rules and always 5 days for "after"/"on" rules.
How does timing interact with direct mail sends?
If a new hire or leave of absence rule is set to direct mail and the recipient has no shipping address on file yet, the send retries on subsequent engine runs within the same grace window described above, rather than failing. See "Where direct mail addresses come from" for how to find and fix missing addresses.