A sinking ship - Software Engineer Workday Employee Review

1.0
Dec 31, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I worked at Adaptive Insights Business Unit and what was once a quirky startup that had poker tables, a band that played every so often, parties for every sort of holiday that you could think of. There used to be a forward thinking idea of pushing better tools to produce software. There was incentives to stick around while workday absorbed the business unit.

Cons

The unit has changed into a large corporate structure where OKRs, organizational key results rule supreme. Middle managers weaponize OKRs for their personal gains. Middle managers are constantly looking for scapegoats, shifting blames and unwanted OKRs to other teams. The business unit constantly misses targets and therefore applies incredible pressure to the teams. Poor communication amongst managers, the constant need to fulfill one manager's requirements while the other is upset that your unable to fulfill their requirements. Managers publically insulting other teams. The software code is incredibly poorly written. Numberous security holes, use of very old software. Imagine working with very old school engineers who don't care to improve the setup nor are they really helping you to do your job. If your planning to do work here, most likely these engineers will sit around attempt criticize whatever work you do in an attempt to maintain relevance.

Explore other reviews about Workday

5.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work life balance is very good

Cons

Too much org level changes

avatar
Workday Response
1w
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.

avatar
Workday Response
2d
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.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All