Events, Event Reasons, Workflows & Business Rules (SEO-Optimized Guide)
In the previous blogs, we learned what Employee Central is and how it is configured.
Now, let’s understand how Employee Central actually works in real life.
Every HR transaction — hiring, promotion, transfer, termination — is controlled by Events, Event Reasons, Workflows, and Business Rules.
This blog explains these concepts step by step, using simple language.
Why Events & Workflows Are Critical in Employee Central
Employee Central is not just a data storage system.
It is a process-driven HR platform.
Without proper configuration of:
- Events
- Event Reasons
- Workflows
❌ HR actions will fail
❌ Approval will not trigger
❌ Data will become inconsistent
These components form the transaction engine of Employee Central.
What Is an Event in Employee Central?
An Event answers the question:
👉 “What HR action is happening?”
Common Employee Central Events
- Hire
- Rehire
- Job Change
- Promotion
- Transfer
- Termination
- Data Change
Events act as containers that group similar HR actions.
What Is an Event Reason?
An Event Reason answers:
👉 “Why did this event happen?”
Examples
| Event | Event Reason |
|---|---|
| Hire | New Hire |
| Job Change | Promotion |
| Job Change | Transfer |
| Termination | Resignation |
| Termination | Retirement |
Event Reasons:
- Drive workflows
- Control effective dating
- Determine employee status
- Impact reporting
✅ Best Practice:
Always configure meaningful and business-specific event reasons.
Difference Between Event vs Event Reason (SEO Section)
Event = Category of action
Event Reason = Business context
✅ Reporting happens mostly on Event Reasons, not events.
✅ Workflow rules are generally assigned at Event Reason level.
How Events and Event Reasons Work Together
When HR performs an action:
- User selects an Event
- System forces an Event Reason
- Data becomes effective-dated
- Workflow is triggered (if configured)
- Business rules are executed
This ensures controlled and auditable HR transactions.
What Is a Workflow in Employee Central?
A Workflow defines:
👉 “Who must approve this HR action?”
Workflow Examples
- Manager approval
- HR approval
- HR + Finance approval
- Auto-approve (no approval)
Workflows ensure:
- Compliance
- Accountability
- Data accuracy
Types of Workflows
1. Single-Step Workflow
One approver (Manager or HR)2. Multi-Step Workflow
- Multiple approvers in sequence
3. Dynamic Role-Based Workflow
-
Approver changes based on role or data
✅ Dynamic workflows are best practice.
Where Are Workflows Assigned?
Workflows are assigned using:
-
Business Rules
-
Based on Event Reason
-
Based on Country / Company / Employee Group
Workflows themselves do nothing until triggered by a rule.
What Are Business Rules in Employee Central?
Business Rules are logical conditions that automate decisions.
They answer:
👉 “IF this happens, THEN do this”
Business Rule Examples
- Trigger workflow
- Derive default values
- Validate data entry
- Show or hide fields
They reduce manual HR effort.
Types of Business Rules (Important for SEO)
1. Workflow Rule
- Triggers approval workflows.
2. OnSave Rule
- Executes when a record is saved.
3. OnInit Rule
- Executes when the screen loads.
4. Validation Rule
- Prevents incorrect data entry.
Sample Business Rule Scenario
Scenario: Promotion process
IF
- Event Reason = Promotion
THEN
- Trigger Promotion Approval Workflow
- Auto-update job level
- Set new pay scale
Result:
✅ Consistent process
✅ Less manual intervention
✅ Audit-ready system
Best Practices for Events & Business Rules
✅ Keep event reasons simple and clean
✅ Avoid duplicate or confusing reasons
✅ Use country-specific workflows
✅ Document rule logic clearly
✅ Test every rule in QA system
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Using generic event reasons
❌ Assigning workflows directly without rules
❌ Over-complex rule logic
❌ Missing effective date understanding
❌ No testing before go-live
Real-Time Business Impact
Correct configuration leads to:
- Faster HR processing
- Error-free approvals
- Accurate reporting
- Better employee experience
- Audit compliance
Employee Central becomes process-driven, not manual.
Summary – What You Learned (SEO Wrap-Up)
In this blog, we covered:
- What are Events and Event Reasons in Employee Central
- How workflows control approvals
- How business rules automate HR processes
- Best practices and mistakes to avoid
These components turn Employee Central into a smart HR system.
