Our Workday platform updates through semi-annual releases that enhance functionality, security, and user experience. These updates deliver new features, improvements, and bug fixes to optimize the system and streamline processes.
Workday's release schedule includes updates that roll out every March and September. This timing allows us to plan ahead, ensuring our systems stay current with the latest innovations and enhancements.
Each release includes a mix of automatic and optional updates, with some requiring additional implementation support. Before every update, the Workday project team carefully reviews the release details, prepares necessary adjustments, and conducts thorough regression and release testing to ensure a seamless update. Additionally, they manage communications and training updates to ensure a smooth transition.
2026 Spring Workday Release (2026R1), Saturday, March 14
- The Workday Menu button on the homepage toolbar has changed to a pinned Global Navigation sidebar, viewable on the left sidebar area of the homepage. Categories appear upon hovering with your mouse. Customization options are more streamlined allowing the ability to add, re-order, or remove items and manage apps by selecting the customize navigation icon at the bottom of the Global Navigation bar.
- Workday now has a Directory for searching and finding all employees and student workers. This is found by using Global Navigation, hovering over Organization and clicking on Employee Directory. Within Workday’s Directory, there are built-in search options based on your View selections, which include location, find workers, organization directory, management chain or organization chart(s).
2026 Fall Workday Release (2026R2), Saturday, September 19
- A new Daily Briefing card will consolidate items on the workday homepage currently shown as Awaiting Your Action, Timely Suggestions and Recommended for You sections.
- Updates to the visual appearance for components of My Tasks, My Conversations and Notifications page provide a more compact style, rounded edges, updated icons and buttons, as well as some background adjustments for a more user friendly view.
- The View Profile page has changed to provide a more accessible way to view your information. It includes a new profile header with your location and contact information, a collapsible side menu for navigation, a Private tab for personal information like annual rewards, recent pay and absence balances, and a Public tab where you can see how your profile looks to others in the organization.
- Managers will be able to view their direct reports from a new My Team Card and view insights related to direct reports directly from their Workday homepage, along with any overdue development items for their team.
Workday Questions?
Workday releases and updates may inspire questions...
Find answers on our Workday FAQs webpage!