A culture of 'phoning it in' - Software Development Engineer II Workday Employee Review

2.0
Jul 4, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

*** by and large defined by the team you're on - ***WLB is great - By-and-large, really solid benefits (401k, insurance, stock options, mat/pat leave) - Lots of small random benefits (e.g. SF Giants tickets, or discount on some clothing line) - A really solid infrastructure for Diversity (will elaborate in cons) - ***A lot of interesting tech opportunities, due in part to the proprietary technology (if you're not in App-Dev). A good stepping stone, or place to settle in for awhile - Generation Workday Tools Intern rotation is good college learning experience - Generally speaking, chill people

Cons

- There really isn't much clear direction. Things are just kinda, happening, and maybe you're doing the important work or maybe you're in a pigeon-hole. Problems are usually re-orged into obscurity instead of addressed in any meaningful way. It's additionally really chaotic for developers with constantly changing team-structure and vision - App-Dev (Applications Development): The proprietary language really does limit how much one learns in the role, and management knows that. The tech stack is diversifying, but expect to fight one another for the opportunities, which are far and few. Initiatives meant for developers keep getting led-along (maybe because of poor direction) - Cash salary is low, for the scale of the company. Compensation primarily comes from stock packages that lock you in for X-number-of-years (I'll acknowledge that some individuals seek out stock) - Leadership is AGGRESSIVELY anti-remote work, come post-covid (the phrase "remote work will be rare" is the common phrase) - Diversity initiatives haven't gone much further than step 1. Lots of corporate infrastructure, resources, etc., but individual/team experience is really hit-or-miss - App Dev Intern role is not a good college learning experience - The "Workday Culture" is just, weird... leadership talks down a lot, like a paternal figure, stuck reminiscing about 'The Good Old Days' (from like, 4 years ago). Personality precedes performance, persistently, especially if you can be 'One of the bro's' (really bad in some depts). And in general, you feel like an outsider if you don't view your job as more than a job, and the psychological toll is real. The unfortunate thing is that this also includes your background, as well as personality. DONT GET ME WRONG. There are some AMAZING teams, who respect one another, foster psychological/emotional safety for all identities, and have a constant curiosity. There are some AMAZING managers who are focused on the person, not your output. However, there are as many teams who foster an exclusionary crony-culture that strives for image instead of meaningful work. And sometimes those things are just a re-org away.

Explore other reviews about Workday

5.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Work life balance is very good

Cons

Too much org level changes

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Workday Response
2w
Thank you for sharing your experience at Workday. We're delighted to know that you've been making the most of your time with us and have been benefiting from a good work-life balance. This feedback is incredibly valuable as it helps us provide an even better working experience and benefits for our Workmates.
3.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent engineering talent and knowledgeable coworkers. Strong engineering culture with high code quality standards. Modern technology stack and opportunities to work on large-scale enterprise software. Good work-life balance compared to many tech companies. Competitive compensation, benefits, and employee perks. Collaborative environment with supportive teammates. Opportunities to learn new technologies and grow technically. Stable development processes and mature SDLC practices. Strong emphasis on testing, code reviews, and software quality. Flexible work arrangements (depending on team).

Cons

Large organization means decision-making can be slow. Significant amount of process and bureaucracy before changes reach production. Cross-team dependencies can slow delivery. Career growth can depend on organizational priorities and manager support. Frequent reorganizations can shift priorities and disrupt long-term projects. Innovation may move slower than at smaller startups. Internal tools and processes can sometimes feel overly complex. Communication between teams can occasionally be inconsistent. Like much of the tech industry, the company has experienced layoffs, creating uncertainty for some employees. Promotions can take time and require navigating multiple approval levels.

1
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Workday Response
1w
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're aware that there's always room to grow, but at Workday, we take pride in our dedication to our Workmates and the 'employee first' ethos we've embedded since day one. We value your feedback as well as the praise you have provided in your review.
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