Workday Releases

Current Release: Workday 2020R2

Twice a year, in September and March, Workday – UW’s integrated, cloud-based human resource and payroll operations system – releases major feature upgrades designed to increase functionality and enhance the user experience. On this page, learn about what changes you can expect; what steps, if any, you might need to take to prepare for the new upgrade; and what dates Workday will be unavailable during this routine maintenance.

Workday releases are named for the calendar year in which they became effective + their release number (i.e., R1 for Release 1 in March or R2 for Release 2 in September).

New Features and Enhancements in Workday 2020 Release 2 (2020R2)

Workday’s fall release was delivered during the weekend of September 12, 2020. Like most Workday releases, much of Workday 2020R2 centers around back-end improvements (which end users won’t notice); however, a few exciting changes came about in this round of planned updates:

Microsoft Edge Users: Confirm Your Web Browser is Workday-Supported:

In order for Workday to continue to provide the usability and speed that users require for optimal performance, Microsoft Edge Legacy (the default web browser for Windows 10 PCs) is no longer by Workday. If you currently use Microsoft Edge Legacy, you will need to either update to Microsoft Edge or switch to one of the Workday-supported browsers, like Chrome, Firefox or Safari. For more information, see our FAQ.

What Else to Expect:

In addition to several other improvements, some of the more noticeable updates you may see when you log into Workday on the morning of September 14 include:

• New “Quick Access” Icon: A new icon found at the top of the Workday screen provides a convenient shortcut to your most used Workday apps, making it easier to navigate to those worklets without having to return to the home screen.
• Enhanced Search Functionality: When using the search field in Workday, the search results are more reader-friendly, and also provide more detail than previously (for example, when searching for an employee, the search results now include the employee’s position, department and work location). Additionally, your five most recent searches are displayed, allowing you to more readily access your regularly utilized reports, business processes and tasks.
• Larger Text and Search Fields: Almost all editable text fields are now slightly larger, improving overall visibility and readability.
• Accessibility Improvements: Workday has improved accessibility and ease-of-use for employees who use assistive technologies by adding “Skip to Main Content” and “Accessibility Overview” buttons across Workday screens.

And department administrators might be interested in a few improvements in the HCM space, including:

• New “Frequently Used” Section in Related Actions Menu: Admins who work regularly in Workday will now find their five most frequently-accessed related actions at the top of the Related Actions menu for easier and quicker access.
• No More Switch Primary Job Black Out Dates: In very exciting news, Switch Primary Job requests can now be made while payroll is in-progress. This means there are no longer “blackout dates” while payroll calc is running, and the ISC’s HCM Service Partners therefore no longer need to hold a department’s request until payroll calc is complete. This change should help administrators more timely complete terminations and avoid potential overpayments.