Employee-owned Hy-Vee started in the Midwest in 1930 promising customers “. . . a helpful smile in every aisle.” But today, it’s more than just a catchy slogan. The retailer consistently earns praise for the way it treats customers. In fact, Hy-Vee recently ranked #1 in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers Choice Awards for value, selection, and great service.
“We’re well known for our commitment to quality and customer service,” says Becky Olson, director, HRIS technology. “Shoppers benefit because as owners, employees are invested in their work and the company’s success.”
Customers are not the only beneficiaries of the company’s promise of support, though. Hy-Vee also invests in its employees, ensuring they’re set up for success when it comes to growth and transparency within the company. Since the company adopted Workday Human Capital Management in 2022, leaders have been seeing increased employee engagement. Now, employees have complete insight into career development opportunities and business workflows, and are able to easily stay connected with colleagues. As a result, they have:
Eliminated over 50 legacy processes
Streamlined payroll and timekeeping systems
United 11 subsidiaries
We use Workday to meet our goal of being the best place to work.
Director, HRIS Technology
Top trends for efficiency and engagement.
Part of how Hy-Vee ensures it remains “the best place to work” is by providing its employees with technology that will inevitably give them time back in their day and meet them where they are. At the top of Hy-Vee’s priority list is using Workday Illuminate™ AI functionality to its fullest extent. “AI is transforming how we operate with Workday,” says Olson. “Currently, we’re using Workday People Analytics and Workday Payroll insights. This helps us optimize our staffing, improve retention, and be more proactive and efficient.”
The Workday mobile app is also key to keeping employees happy. Olson says employees’ lives are simplified because they can review or request time off, submit timesheets, leave feedback, or take online learning courses from their phones. Managers can use the app to approve employee requests, make job or compensation changes, provide performance feedback, or access reports.
“Everyone expects to do everything on their phone. We are at over 90% for mobile app adoption, which is fantastic,” Olson says.
We create a positive and meaningful experience for all our employees with Workday.
Director, HRIS
Increased engagement and retention.
But how does Hy-Vee remain agile through the ebbs and flows of the retail industry and keep employees engaged at the same time? Hy-Vee identifies and tracks trends and insights into employee turnover and engagement with Workday People Analytics. Janelle Strait, Director, HRIS, says their employee development team uses these analytics to map the success of their certification and management training programs.
“We monitor promotion rates and see what employees are doing next to help build career paths for a future of growth with the company,” Strait says. Employees can access their training or learning programs in one day, a process that used to take three days.
Olson says they’ve also gained insights into employee retention, identifying the trends and turnover rates within specific departments. “For departments that have higher attrition rates, we can address those issues with targeted retention programs,”Olson says. “That leads to more overall employee satisfaction.”
We empower people to drive innovation and unlock their full potential. With Workday, we have the right partner to make that happen.
Director, HRIS Technology
An easier payday for all.
And when it comes to making sure their employees are paid seamlessly and efficiently, Olson says that Workday has also played an extensive role.
Before Workday, Hy-Vee had a homegrown payroll system that required extensive maintenance and was cumbersome to update, especially with new government regulations. Legacy platforms with multiple integrations created a lot of failure points.
“With everything in Workday, it’s just seamless now. Complex tax changes and simple things like paystubs. None of that was standardized before. Now, all of it is,” Olson says.
Getting value off the high shelf.
While employees and customers are experiencing the benefits of Workday, so too is the company as a whole. Hy-Vee uses Workday Success Plans (WSP) for expertise, support, and education on how to use Workday more effectively to meet business goals. Online training and resources through WSP lets companies learn and expand how they use Workday products.
“Workday Success Plans take our partnership to the next level because we have direct access to experts,” Olson says. “If we, for example, build an integration and it takes a while to process, we can use the Ask-an-Expert feature of WSP to get good advice about how to save time.”
As the company moves forward, Hy-Vee continues to look for ways to transform the way its workforce works. “We’re looking to empower our people, drive innovation, and unlock the potential that we never thought was possible,” Olson concludes. “And with Workday, we know we've got the right partner to do that.”