Has anyone noticed the language being used in the Workday iOS app? If not, I’ll just write it off as an occupational hazard of mine. I’m very observant.
For example, when I open the iOS app, I see an icon named, Absence. That word brings back lots of memories. For example, When I missed a day of school, I was absent. The word leaves a very sour feeling in my gut. It kind of reminds me of the word, tardy. Kind of a negative connotation. So, with that being said, if you click on the icon, it takes you to the calendar with the heading named, Time off. Now, doesn’t ‘time off’ emotionally sound better than ‘absence’? Somewhere in the back of my mind, the word absence means like I did something wrong.
So, why would the icon be named absence, but the following page called time off? Is it some psychological scheme by the company to discourage you from taking time off and making it sound like you would be absent from doing your job? Perhaps I’m over thinking this. Then again, this is WF. I wouldn’t put it past this company to resort to these type of tactics.
Just for fun, please share your opinions.
17 replies (most recent on top)
you are 100% overthinking it. This is standard terminology in the Workday software and it has nothing to do with WF.
Thanks for the suggestion. Bloopy blop blop days Sounds good to me.
You aren't alone in having those feelings.
You’re overthinking this. I’m a manager and I hate Workday, but using the word “absence” for time away causes no distress for me. What does make me wanna scream is the extreme dysfunction I see everywhere I look. I could go on for days rattling off multiple initiatives doomed to failure by boneheaded decisions at the start but it would only depress me further.
Here you go, OP. We'll rename these to "Bloopy blop blop days" because those words invoke imagery of round, soft, non-threatening things. Like bubbles. That should keep you from taking time off for the absolutely ridiculous wording of "absence."
Please sure to update your out of office message to confirm you are away on a bloopy when you use your bloopy blop blop days.
Absence vs time off is similar to how we used to call heavy drinkers 'drunkards', but now we can them 'alcoholics', or 'alcohol enthusiasts'.
The words mean the same thing, but people's emotions are irrational so we focus on the words instead of the meaning.
Do you realize this is a Workday term used in all companies, and in all countries, that use Workday? Also it includes everything from planned PTO to unplanned absences to LOAs, etc. Sounds more like PTSD from past events than an issue with commonly used terms.
It’s the same on the desktop version of the site. They didn’t make up special names for the mobile app. SMH
We have people triggered by the word absence now.
Agreed. That’s what I found confusing. Why say absence when you can say PTO or time off like it does on the calendar page?
That’s why I immediately thought WF did that on purpose. Maybe I’m just jaded. I’m so used to WF sticking it to me all these years.
Absence is a very odd way of saying it, and with a bad connotation. Nothing was wrong with saying PTO.
you are overthinking it. it's Workday's software and the labeling is theirs.... not WF's
Good to know it was not specific to WF. Thanks
If it was scheduled in advance, you didn’t do anything wrong.
It it was an unscheduled, you let down your team, your manager, our shareholders, and our customers. You should be marked absent.
Sounds like you need an emotional support animal.
Ihhhh, Workday is used by hundreds, if not thousands, of companies. Absence is the icon for every company, not Charlie trying to make you feel bad.
Whether you’re off or absent, you’re not there. I don’t think it’s any grand plan to psychologically harm you.
It wa my ro ably developed in India.