Body
Purpose
This job aid explains how to identify, interpret, and respond to errors, alerts, and system messages in Workday. Understanding these messages helps users complete tasks accurately, avoid delays, and resolve issues before submitting or approving business processes.
When to Use
Use this job aid when you:
- Encounter an error or alert while completing a task in Workday
- Are unsure why a process cannot be submitted or approved
- Need to correct missing or invalid information
- Want to understand the difference between errors, warnings, and informational messages
Steps
Understanding Workday Messages: These steps explain how to identify and respond to Workday system messages, including errors, alerts, and informational messages, to help users resolve issues, understand warnings, and complete tasks successfully.
Step 1:Errors (Red Messages – Action Required)
What this means:
Errors indicate that required information is missing, invalid, or does not meet Workday business rules. The process cannot be submitted until the error is resolved. Select the notification to view the error details. Errors are displayed in red; note the number of identified errors as shown in the example images below. You cannot complete a task until you correct all errors.
Common characteristics:
- Displayed in red
- Appear at the top of the page and next to specific fields
- Prevent submission or approval
What to do:
- Review all highlighted fields
- Enter or correct the required information
- Ensure values meet formatting and business rules
- Resolve all errors before selecting Submit again
Step 1:Alerts / Warnings (Orange or Yellow Messages – Review Recommended)
What this means:
Alerts notify you of a potential issue or unusual condition while still allowing you to continue the process.
Common characteristics:
- Displayed in orange or yellow
- Do not block submission
- Often indicates downstream impact or data inconsistency
What to do:
- Read the alert carefully
- Confirm the information is correct
- Decide whether to proceed or update the data before continuing
Step 2:Informational Messages (Blue or Gray Messages – No Action Required)
What this means:
Informational messages provide confirmation, reminders, or helpful guidance and do not require corrective action.
Common Causes of Errors and Alerts
- Missing required fields (marked with an asterisk *)
- Invalid or overlapping dates
- Incorrect job profiles, organizations, or cost centers
- Security or role-based access restrictions
- Incomplete approvals or dependencies
- Conflicts with existing worker data
Best Practices for Resolving Errors
- Read the full message before taking action
- Scroll through the entire page to locate all highlighted fields
- Correct all required information before resubmitting
- Use Save for Later if additional information is needed
- Avoid repeatedly submitting without changes
- Capture screenshots when requesting assistance
Notes & Tips
- Errors must be resolved before a process can move forward.
- Alerts should not be ignored without understanding their impact.
- Error messages often appear both at the top of the page and next to affected fields.
- Some alerts are triggered by institutional configuration or business rules.
- When submitting a TDX ticket, include:
- The full error or alert message
- The business process name
- Screenshots, if available