Set up Workday GPC for Global Payroll

The GP integration syncs core HR, compensation, and payment data from Workday to Deel so that payroll can be processed. Payroll results, payslips, and tax documents are then sent back to Workday. Data flows are managed through independently-enabled plugins. Start with People Data Sync (DCoD), then enable additional plugins as needed.

Sync direction: Primarily Workday to Deel, with Deel to Workday for ExPR, ExPD, and GPH.

In this article

• Before you begin
• Step 1: Enable DCoD for Pay Groups
• Step 2: Configure earnings
• Step 4: Enable people data sync
• Next steps

Before you begin

Before starting the Global Payroll-specific setup, make sure you have completed the required parts of the common connection setup. If you haven't done this yet, go to How to connect Workday GPC to Deel first.

Parts 1 and 2 of the common setup must be complete before continuing:

• Part 1: Connecting Workday to Deel - creating an ISU, setting up security groups, an API client, tokens, and connecting to Deel
• Part 2: Setting up DCoD - integration system, external payroll vendor, and vendor mapping

You will also need:

• Entities set up in Deel with Global Payroll enabled
• GP-specific permissions and scopes added during Steps 2 and 3 of the common setup. Refer to the Security permissions reference and Scopes reference
• A confirmed list of fields to map between Deel and Workday. Work with your Deel integration specialist before starting. Refer to the Data mapping reference for more information. 

If you plan to set up PTO, OTP, or recurring payment sync, discuss this with your Deel representative before starting. These must be configured by Deel first.

Step 1: Enable DCoD for Pay Groups

This tells Workday exactly which groups of employees should have their data synced to Deel.

1. In Workday, launch the Maintain Pay Group Vendor Associations task.
2. Add a new row for each Pay Group you want to sync. In each row, you must specify:
   • External Payroll Vendor: Select the one you created and mapped to in the previous steps.
   • Feature: Select Data Changes On Demand.
   • Pay Group: Select your target Workday Pay Group.
   • Payroll Organization Type: Select your defined Third-Party Payroll Organization.

3. Click OK

Pay groups can only be assigned to one vendor 

If a pay group you want to assign is already assigned to another vendor, for example, if PEO or EOR is also configured on this tenant, remove it from that vendor first.

For more information, visit Maintain Pay Group Vendor Associations in the Workday Community.

Step 2: Configure earnings

For payroll codes to sync correctly to Deel, you must configure the external payroll earnings and deductions in Workday. Much of this configuration depends on your organisation's needs. 

1. Launch the Maintain External Payroll Earnings task.
2. Select the pay groups you want to configure earnings for.
3. Configure the earnings following these guidelines:
   • Name - this is what you will see in the Deel UI. Make it recognisable.
   • Code - this is what workers will see in their payroll. Make it recognisable.
   • Map each entry to the respective compensation element so it can be processed correctly in payroll.
   • Set the Override Frequency to Monthly.
4. Save your changes.

For more information, visit Manage External Payroll Earnings in the Workday Community.

Step 3: Create Payment Election Rules

This ensures that bank and payment data formatted in Workday can be correctly interpreted by Deel.

1. In Workday, launch the Maintain Payment Election Rules task.
2. Add a new rule. You must specify:
   • Election Rule Type: Select Payroll Interface Rule.
   • Election Rule Name: Set a name for the rule.
   • Default / Pay Group Specific Rule: Set the pay groups that the rules must be applied to.
   • Allowed Payment Types for Payment Elections: Select Direct Deposit.
   • Default Payment Type: Select Direct Deposit.
   • Max Number of Elections: Set to 1 (Deel does not support split elections).
   • Default Payment Type Election: Set to Manual.
3. Click OK.
4. Click the three-dot menu and Related Actions for the rule. Go to Integration IDs > Edit Reference ID.

5. Set the Reference ID Value to Deel_Payroll.
6. Click OK, then click Done.

Step 4: Enable people data sync

People data sync works on a per-entity basis. Repeat the steps below for each entity you want to sync.

1. In Deel, under the Plugins and settings tab, locate the People data sync plugin and click Enable to launch the wizard.
2. On the Configuration step, map the entities and groups to be synced, then click Continue.
3. On the Sync entities step, configure the sync schedule, then click Continue.
4. On the Data/item mapping step, confirm that the field mapping is correct or edit it as needed, then click Continue.
   • (Optional) If you have included country-specific fields, you can map them from the Country-specific items section.

Work with your integration specialist To complete the mapping, make sure you are familiar with the data dictionary and have agreed on the fields to map with your Deel integration specialist before this step.

5. On the Review & confirm step, review your settings, then click Continue.

People data sync is now enabled and will sync data at the scheduled time.

Setting up additional entities

To add more entities after the initial setup, click the People data sync plugin, select Add entity, then continue from Step 2 above.

Next steps

Now that the core setup is complete, you can extend the integration by enabling additional plugins. All plugins listed below are optional. You can enable only the ones that match your organisation's needs and workflows. Each plugin has its own setup guide with step-by-step instructions.

You can enable plugins at any time after completing the core setup. There is no required order, with one exception: plugins that depend on DCoD (such as PTO, OTP, and GPH) require at least one DCoD sync to have run before they can be fully configured.

• External Payroll Results (ExPR) - sends payroll result lines from Deel to Workday for reporting and G2N calculations. 
• External Payroll Documents (ExPD) - syncs payslips and tax documents from Deel to Workday. 
• Additional Payroll Data (APD) - collects bank details and country-specific fields from workers in Workday. 
• Time Off Sync (PTO) - syncs approved time off from Workday to Deel for payroll processing. 
• Benefits and Deductions - maps benefits and deductions from Workday directly to Deel.
• Global Payroll Hub (GPH) -  submits payroll cycle information from Deel to Workday's Global Payroll Hub.