public function get_former_activity_id($employees_id, $selected_date = null)
 {
     if (!tep_not_null($selected_date)) {
         $selected_date = time();
     }
     $former_activity_id = activity::get_former_activity_id($employees_id, $selected_date);
     if ($former_activity_id <= 0) {
         // No activity exists or activity not valid for given employee & date
         $this->former_activity = null;
     } else {
         // Activity exists and is valid for given employee and date
         $this->former_activity = new activity($former_activity_id);
     }
     return $former_activity_id;
 }