code: protected int getWaitPeriodInSeconds() throws ActivityException {
          String unit = super.getAttributeValue(WAIT_UNIT);
          int factor;
          if (MINUTES.equals(unit)) factor = 60;
          else if (HOURS.equals(unit)) factor = 3600;
          else if (DAYS.equals(unit)) factor = 86400;
          else factor = 1;  // Means specified value is already in seconds
          int retTime;
          String timeAttr;
          try {
              timeAttr = super.getAttributeValueSmart(WorkAttributeConstant.TIMER_WAIT);
          } catch (PropertyException e) {
              throw new ActivityException(-1, "failed to evaluate time expression", e);
          }
          retTime = StringHelper.getInteger(timeAttr, DEFAULT_WAIT);
          return retTime*factor;
      }
docs: Method that returns the wait period for the activity
  @return Wait period