Skip to main content
Documentation
Documentation
Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2025-06-13
Example: Define Essential Workers with Custom Objects

Example: Define Essential Workers with Custom Objects

This example illustrates how to configure custom objects on a worker profile to designate workers as essential service providers.
You want to run reports to identify essential workers so you can plan workforce deployment. You create a custom business object on a worker profile to define which workers are essential.
Security: these domains in the System functional area:
  • Custom Object Management
  • Security Configuration
  1. Access the
    Create Custom Object
     task.
    Create a single-instance custom object on effective-dated worker objects.
  2. Enter these values:
    Field
    Value
    Workday Object:
    Worker
    Custom Object Name:
    Essential Service Worker
  3. Click
    OK
    .
  4. On the
    General Settings
     section, edit the
    Allow Multiple Instances per Object?
     field to
    No
    .
  5. Click
    Next
    .
  6. On the
    Field Definitions
     section, click
    Add
     to add each of these
    Proposed New Fields
    :
    Field Label
    Field Type
    Ref ID
    Text
    Reason
    Text
    Comment
    Text
    Permanently Essential
    Boolean
    Start Date
    Date
    End Date
    Date
    Updated By
    Text
    Updated On
    Date
    Secondary Reason
    Text
  7. Click
    Next
    .
  8. On the
    Permissions
     section, select the
    Custom Object Management
     security domain to secure your new custom business object. See Concept: Security for Custom Objects for more information.
  9. Click
    Next
     then
    OK
    .
  10. On the
    Activate Custom Object
     page, configure these fields:
    Option Description
    Display Value
    Permanently Essential
    Reference ID
    Ref ID
  11. Click
    OK
     and
    Done
    .
  13. Edit Domain Security Policies.
    1. On the domain security policy that secures the new business object, add relevant security groups with:
      • View permissions to enable them to view whether workers are categorized as essential. Workday recommends that you include Manager, HR Partner, and Employee as Self security groups.
      • Modify permissions to enable them to define whether workers are essential.
  14. Activate Pending Security Policy Changes.
  15. On the
    Edit Worker Additional Data Event
     business process, add a new step to the business process,
    Edit Additional Data
    , for the custom object.
  16. View workers’ essential/non-essential statuses in their Worker Profiles.
You can:
  • Create custom reports and dashboards to filter for essential workers. See Create Custom Reports.
  • Create a dynamic document that workers can generate in situations where they need to prove their essential worker status. See Steps: Manage Reference Letters .
  • Access the:
    • Custom Object Definitions
       report to view details about your custom object.
    • Edit Custom Object
       report to edit your custom object and its labels.