Overview

Every automation in Deel is built from three pieces:

Piece	What it is
Trigger	The event that starts the workflow (for example, a new hire's first contract is created).
Conditions	Optional logic that narrows or branches the workflow (Filter, Branch, Delay).
Actions	What the workflow does once triggered (send an email, create a task, and so on).

A workflow always has exactly one trigger and one or more actions. Conditions are optional.

This glossary applies whether you're building in Legacy Workflows or the newer Agentic Workflows. They use the same triggers, conditions, and actions. Agentic Workflows also let you add an AI agent step for tasks such as compliance checks or document generation.

Triggers

A trigger fires either once (the first time the condition is met) or daily (every day the condition stays true, for date- or status-based triggers). Choosing the right trigger matters most; most "my workflow didn't fire" issues trace back to the trigger.

Onboarding

First Contract Added: Fires when a worker's first contract is created.
Use it for: Welcome emails, onboarding task assignment, kicking off a learning journey.
Example: "When a worker's first contract is added, send them a welcome email and assign their Day 1 checklist."

Draft ID Created: Fires when a draft contract is created, before it's signed.
Use it for: Pre-signature reminders, prepping documents ahead of the start date.
Example: "When a draft contract is created, notify the hiring manager to review it."

Offboarding

Contract Terminated: Fires when a worker's contract status changes to terminated.
Use it for: Kicking off the exit process, notifying teams, starting access revocation.
Example: "When a contract is terminated, notify IT to begin access revocation."

Offboarding Status: Fires when the offboarding status changes to a specific stage (pending, in progress, completed).
Use it for: Stage-specific actions, giving more granular control than "Contract Terminated" alone.
Example: "When offboarding status changes to 'pending review,' send the exit package to the departing worker."

There's no separate trigger for "resignation." Voluntary and involuntary exits both fire through these two triggers. To treat them differently, use a Filter or Branch based on a custom field you maintain for exit reason.

People data

Personal Information: Fires when fields like name, date of birth, phone, nationality, bank details, or emergency contact change.

Contract Information: Fires when currency, legal entity, or base compensation changes.

This is the only compensation-related trigger. Bonuses, allowances, and equity aren't separately watchable. Track those with a custom field if you need to react to changes in them.

Employment Information: Fires when start date, job title, work email, work anniversary, seniority, or probation status changes.

Home Address: Fires when a worker's home address (country, state, city, street, zip) changes.

Work Location: Fires when a worker's work location country changes.

Custom Fields: Fires when any custom field you've configured for workers changes.
Use it for: Anything not covered by a built in trigger, such as clearance levels, internal tags, or org specific data.

Worker Relations: Fires when a worker relationship changes (manager assignment, buddy assignment, and so on).

Time off

Time Off Start Date and Time Off End Date: Fire relative to a time off request's start or end date (for example, "5 days before" or "on the day").

Time Off Status: Fires when a time off request's status changes (approved, denied, cancelled).

Time Off Taken in Current Period: Fires when a worker's accumulated time off reaches a threshold you set.

Time tracking

Worked Time Status: Fires when a worked time or shift status changes.

Deel Payroll

Payroll Ready for Review: Fires when a payroll run is ready for review and submission.

Incorrect G2N Data: Fires when a gross to net (G2N) submission contains unexpected data.

Engage

New Career Path Assigned and New Level Assigned: Fire when a career path or level changes for an employee.

Recruiting (ATS)

Feedback: Fires when interview feedback status changes (submitted, reviewed, and so on).

Approvals

Approval Request Status: Fires when an approval request changes status (pending, approved, rejected, escalated).

This watches the approval process itself, not the event that started it.

Documents

Document Status: Fires for workers whose assigned document is in a status you select (for example, signed or pending).

Announcements

Announcement: A one time or recurring message sent to a group of workers. You trigger this one manually. It isn't triggered by an event.

Conditions

Filter: Only lets the workflow continue if a condition is met (for example, worker is in a specific country). If the condition isn't met, the remaining actions are skipped.

Branch: Builds if/then/else paths within a single workflow. Different actions run depending on worker attributes.

Delay: Pauses the workflow for a set amount of time before the next action (for example, wait 7 days between onboarding emails). Delays can go up to 180 days.

Actions

Communication

Send Email: Sends an email to configured recipients (worker, manager, custom list), with dynamic fields and optional attachments.
Send Slack Message: Posts to a public or private channel, or sends a direct message.
Send MS Teams Message: Posts to a Microsoft Teams channel or user.

Task and assignment

Create Task: Creates and assigns a task with a title, due date, and description.
Assign HR Suite Journey: Starts an HR Suite onboarding, offboarding, or custom journey.
Assign HR Suite Learning Program: Assigns a training or learning program through HR Suite.
Assign Learning Journey (Engage): Assigns a learning course or journey through Engage.
Assign Survey: Sends a survey.
Assign Review Cycle: Adds a worker to a performance review cycle.

There's no dedicated "approval workflow" action. Build multi-step approvals by chaining Create Task steps, one per approver, with Filters or Branches routing by risk or amount.

Documents and compliance

Send or Request Document: Sends a document for signature, acknowledgement, or upload.
Send to Deel Storage: Archives a document automatically to the worker's Deel file storage.
Send to Clearance (IT Security): Initiates a device wipe or lock on termination.

Access and devices

Application Access and Authorization (IAM): Grants or revokes app or system access.
Mobile Device Management (MDM): Enrolls, locks, wipes, or applies a policy to a device.
24/7 Tech Support: Automatically creates an IT support ticket.

Integrations

Create Jira Issue: Creates a Jira ticket, or updates an existing one.
Send Webhook: Sends data to an external system through an HTTP POST request.

Automation

Automate Payroll: Submits, approves, or runs a payroll run.

Putting it together: example workflows

Simple welcome email
Trigger: First Contract Added → Action: Send Email (welcome template)

Time off approval with a manager nudge
Trigger: Time Off Status = Pending → Action: Send Slack Message to manager → Delay 2 days → Action: Send Email reminder if still pending

Multi step offboarding
Trigger: Contract Terminated → Action: Create Task (IT: revoke access) → Action: Create Task (Finance: final payment) → Delay until last day → Action: Application Access and Authorization (IAM): revoke access