Workday: What to Know About Moving on from MARS
On Jan. 1, Houston Methodist will go live with Workday to manage many of our human resources, financial, supply chain and research processes. Here’s what you need to know about what’s coming and how to prepare.
Top Changes for Everyone
- Pay, PTO and Profiles: Workday is where you’ll view your pay slips, manage your payment deductions and benefits and view PTO balances, as well as where you’ll update your personal information. Note: You’ll be able to view your PTO balance in Workday, however, time and attendance tracking will continue to be managed in LaborWorkx.
- Learning and Performance. Workday will replace LMS SuccessFactors for all learning courses, including your annual in-services. It’s also where you and your manager will complete your 2026 Focal Point Review and set performance goals.
- Easier Navigation. Guided, AI-enabled search, as well as help text and enhanced features will help you find answers on your own, all in one place.
- Get Information on the Go. You can perform some Workday tasks from a mobile app you can download to your device, making it more convenient for you. Note: Not all Workday tasks can be performed on a phone or tablet.
- Taking Credit Where It’s Due. You’ll be able to self-report your additional education, certifications, relevant skills and other professional information in Workday, keeping your profile up to date.
- Better Access to Job Information. In Workday, you’ll be able to search for and set alerts for HM jobs. You also can apply for open positions at HM, manage your job applications and refer candidates.
Top Changes for Leaders
Leaders can expect to see meaningful improvements in the following areas:
- Centralized Access to Team Information. View detailed profiles and organizational charts in one place, helping you make informed decisions faster.
- Streamlined Approvals and Transactions. Initiate and approve actions, such as job requisitions, leave requests and financial transactions, directly in Workday, with no more back-and-forth emails.
- Improved Workforce Planning. Track open and filled positions, conduct focal point reviews and set performance goals with integrated tools that support strategic planning.
- Automated Delegation. When you’re out of office, Workday can automatically delegate tasks to an interim leader, ensuring continuity in team operations.
- Enhanced Onboarding and Hiring Tools. From requisition creation to candidate evaluation and onboarding, Workday introduces structured workflows and rating systems to help you hire and onboard more efficiently.
Resources at the Ready
Every employee will interact with Workday in some way, so being prepared to use the platform is crucial. Fortunately, answers to many Workday-related questions can be found within Workday. You can use the global search bar at the top of every Workday page to enter relevant keywords and questions. An ever-growing collection of knowledge articles are easily found in Workday, too.
If Workday will significantly impact your role, you’ll be notified by the Workday training team and directed to available tip sheets, quick start guides, recorded demos, live train-the-trainer forums, and a testing playground version of Workday will begin rolling out starting in October.
A network of more than 700 employees throughout the system are available as Workday Change Champions to answer questions and help you navigate the change. If you’re still left with questions post-launch, you’ll be able to visit any AskI.T. walk-up support station to get connected to answers promptly. Beginning in January, we’ll have Super Users designated for all locations, who will be knowledgeable in troubleshooting and providing at-the-elbow support. Also, you can use Workday Help when you’re working in the system to submit a ticket for assistance.
Important Dates
If your current duties include viewing, creating or managing requisitions for goods and services or entering invoices, you’ll need to complete training by Friday, Dec. 19 to be granted security access to perform those functions beginning Jan. 1.
Your first paycheck issued in Workday will be on Thursday, Jan. 15, covering the Dec. 28 to Jan. 10 time period. You’ll still have access to MARS for a limited time to view and download your 2025 W-2 Forms.
Head to The HUB
The HUB Workday page is your one-stop destination for all things Workday, prior to the Jan. 1 launch, including employee and leader resources, frequently asked questions, training materials and project updates and sponsor announcements.
To visit The HUB Workday page:
- From The HUB, select Tools & Resources.
- On the left column, under Business, select Workday Project.
Be sure and bookmark the page to stay informed and to ensure you’re prepared for the transition to Workday on Jan. 1.