Workday, Inc. (WDAY)

Criticisms on file

No material criticisms on file for this pillar.

Disclosed initiatives

• Climate-Related Risk Oversight

  Nominating and Governance Committee oversees significant environmental-related risks, including climate-related risks, and steps management has taken to monitor or mitigate such risks.
• Science-Based Targets

  Proxy references brand association with environmental sustainability commitments including science-based targets, but detailed metrics and timelines are not disclosed in filed documents.
• Global Impact Report

  Company publishes Global Impact Report available at globalimpact.workday.com, but specific environmental KPIs not detailed in 10-K or proxy filings.

Criticisms on file

• AI Discrimination Litigation

  Source: WDAY 10-K Risk Factors: 'We are currently defending against a lawsuit alleging that certain of our AI-related products and services enable discrimination, and although we believe that such claims lack merit, and the majority of the claims have been dismissed, legal proceedings can be lengthy, expensive, and disruptive to our operations and customers.'

Disclosed initiatives

• Employees as Core Value

  Company explicitly identifies employees as number-one core value. Chief People Officer responsible for human capital strategy including total rewards, workforce planning, skills-based hiring, employee development, engagement, and wellbeing.
• Career Hub

  AI-powered internal platform available to all employees to share skills, receive curated learning, recommended jobs, and career path guidance via Career Path Builder feature.

  Promotes internal talent retention and skills development.
• Peakon Employee Voice

  Real-time employee feedback and engagement tool powered by Workday AI; weekly surveys to all employees to identify retention and culture improvements.

  Supports employee retention through feedback-driven action.
• Employee Belonging Councils

  Open to all employees to build connections, foster ideation, and drive innovation; cultivates 'Value Inclusion and Belonging for Everyone' culture.

  Supports inclusive workplace culture.
• Volunteer Program

  In fiscal 2026, employees logged over 35,000 volunteer hours.

  Community engagement and employee purpose alignment.
• Human Rights Statement

  Published Human Rights Statement available on website; embeds human rights principles into workforce, innovations, supply chain, and communities.

  Formalizes human-rights governance across business operations.

Criticisms on file

• Dual-Class Share Structure Limiting Minority Shareholder Voice

  Source: WDAY Proxy Statement and 10-K: Dual-class voting structure with Class B shares (10 votes) held primarily by co-founders Duffield and Bhusri (~69% voting power) vs. publicly traded Class A shares (1 vote). Risk factor summary notes 'limited ability of third parties to influence corporate matters due to our dual class structure and to seek a merger, tender offer, or proxy contest due to Delaware law and provisions in our organizational documents.'
• Stockholder Proposal on Voting Results Disclosure by Share Class

  Source: WDAY Proxy Statement Proposal 7: NYC Comptroller (representing pension systems) submitted shareholder proposal requesting disclosure of voting results by share class to demonstrate influence gap between Class A and Class B shareholders. Board recommends AGAINST, citing administrative burden.

Disclosed initiatives

• Lead Independent Director

  Board maintains rotating Lead Independent Director role with recent rotation; independent director selected to lead executive sessions.

  Provides counterbalance to CEO/Chair duality and enhances independent director oversight.
• Annual Board and Committee Evaluations

  Formal annual evaluations of Board, committee, and individual director performance.

  Ensures ongoing governance assessment and director accountability.
• Board Refreshment

  Three new directors added in last two fiscal years; ongoing board composition review per Nominating and Governance Committee charter.

  Supports diversity, fresh perspectives, and continuity planning.
• Majority Voting for Directors

  Cumulative voting not permitted; directors elected by majority of votes cast.

  Standard governance practice.
• 100% Independent Committees

  Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees are wholly independent.

  Strengthens oversight independence.
• Robust Stock Ownership Guidelines

  Directors and executives subject to stock ownership guidelines.

  Aligns leadership compensation with long-term shareholder value.
• Clawback Policy

  Executive clawback policy exceeds Nasdaq Global Select Market listing requirements.

  Enhanced accountability for executive compensation.
• Year-Round Stockholder Engagement

  Proactive investor outreach program; Board considers stockholder feedback on governance, compensation, and AI practices; quarterly earnings calls and investor meetings.

  Enhances transparency and responsiveness to shareholder concerns.
• Public Policy Oversight

  Nominating and Governance Committee oversees public policy matters, political activities, and expenditures; Chief Legal Officer and VP Public Policy maintain approval on policy positions and political spending.

  Governance and transparency in lobbying and political engagement.