How to use HR Person Types in Workday

Person Types are a fundamental building block of an HR record in Workday. They determine whether the person can be paid, how they can be paid, what kind of security roles may be assigned to them, and what kind of organizations they may be a part of (e.g. supervisory organizations, academic units etc.).

Definitions of HR processing people types below:

  • Employee
    • Individuals who hold a position(s) paid through WSU payroll. These individuals are associated with a supervisory organization and have a manager.
  • Contingent Worker
    • Individuals hold a position(s) associated with a supervisory organization and are not paid through WSU payroll. This Person Type Record allows for finance initiator roles to be assigned.
  • Academic Affiliate
    • Individuals associated with an academic unit who do not hold positions and are not paid through WSU payroll. These individuals also cannot be paid through Accounts Payable through this person type. This Person Type Record does not allow for finance initiator roles to be assigned.

Not every person associated with WSU needs to be entered into Workday. Please read closely to determine if the person you are working with needs a person record in Workday.

Review the HR Person Types, Searching for People, and the Correct Processes to Use in Workday reference guide for details about the different HCM employee types and when to use them. The guide also includes decision trees, information on how to determine if your person needs to be entered into Workday, and how to choose the correct Workday ‘Person Type’ for individuals who need to be input into Workday for HR processing.

The HCM Person Types session in the Workday Success Stories track at the 2023 Elevating Cougs conference offers another way to learn when to use which Person Type.

Questions? Reach out at the Workday Service Desk.