What authentication method does Workday use?

Workday uses OAuth 2.0 with a registered API Client. You'll need to provide your Client ID, Client Secret, and a Refresh Token — all generated from within your Workday tenant by an administrator.

Can I check PTO balances for my direct reports?

Yes. The `get_time_off_balances` tool retrieves current PTO balances for any worker within the security scope configured for your Integration System User. Data is returned per plan type (vacation, sick, personal).

Does it support Workday Report-as-a-Service (RaaS)?

Absolutely. Use the `execute_raas_report` tool with your report URL to retrieve any custom Workday report, including those with prompt parameters. Results are returned in JSON format.

Can I navigate the entire organizational hierarchy?

Yes. The `get_org_structure` tool fetches supervisory organizations, cost centers, and company hierarchies, allowing you to traverse the full org tree from any starting point.

Workday MCP Server for Windsurf 9 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: Workday
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/mcp

Built by Vinkius GDPR 9 Tools IDE

Windsurf brings agentic AI coding to a purpose-built IDE. Connect Workday through the Vinkius and Cascade will auto-discover every tool — ask questions, generate code, and act on live data without leaving your editor.

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Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.

RecommendedModern Approach — Zero Configuration

Vinkius Desktop App

The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install Workday and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "workday": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Fully ManagedVinkius Servers

60%Token savings

High SecurityEnterprise-grade

IAMAccess control

EU AI ActCompliant

DLPData protection

V8 IsolateSandboxed

Ed25519Audit chain

<40msKill switch

Stream every event to Splunk, Datadog, or your own webhook in real-time

* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About Workday MCP Server

Connect your Workday tenant to any AI agent and manage your human capital operations through natural conversation.

Windsurf's Cascade agent chains multiple Workday tool calls autonomously — query data, analyze results, and generate code in a single agentic session. Paste the Vinkius Edge URL, reload, and all 9 tools are immediately available. Real-time tool feedback appears inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor.

What you can do

Worker Profiles — Query employee data, job profiles, supervisory organizations, and worker history across your entire workforce
Payroll Insights — Retrieve payroll run summaries, compensation breakdowns, and benefit elections for any worker
Organizational Structure — Navigate supervisory hierarchies, cost centers, and company structures through simple queries
Time Off & Absence — Check PTO balances, pending time-off requests, and absence history for team members
Recruiting Pipeline — Monitor open positions, candidate pipeline status, and job requisition approvals
Compensation Planning — View compensation plans, merit increases, and bonus allocations across business units
Custom Reports — Execute Workday Report-as-a-Service (RaaS) queries for tailored data extractions

The Workday MCP Server exposes 9 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Windsurf in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect Workday to Windsurf via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the Workday MCP Server with Windsurf.

Open MCP Settings

Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"

Add the server

Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json

Save and reload

Windsurf will detect the new server automatically

Start using Workday

Open Cascade and ask: "Using Workday, help me..." — 9 tools available

Why Use Windsurf with the Workday MCP Server

Windsurf provides unique advantages when paired with Workday through the Model Context Protocol.

Windsurf's Cascade agent autonomously chains multiple tool calls in sequence, solving complex multi-step tasks without manual intervention

Purpose-built for agentic workflows — Cascade understands context across your entire codebase and integrates MCP tools natively

JSON-based configuration means zero code changes: paste a URL, reload, and all 9 tools are immediately available

Real-time tool feedback is displayed inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor without switching contexts

Workday + Windsurf Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Windsurf combined with the Workday MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Automated code generation: ask Cascade to fetch data from Workday and generate models, types, or handlers based on real API responses

Live debugging: query Workday tools mid-session to inspect production data while debugging without leaving the editor

Documentation generation: pull schema information from Workday and have Cascade generate comprehensive API docs automatically

Rapid prototyping: combine Workday data with Cascade's code generation to scaffold entire features in minutes

Workday MCP Tools for Windsurf (9)

These 9 tools become available when you connect Workday to Windsurf via MCP:

execute_raas_report

Results are returned in JSON. The URL can include prompt parameters. Execute a Workday Report-as-a-Service (RaaS) report

get_payroll_results

Get payroll results for a worker

get_time_off_balances

Get time off balances for a worker

get_time_off_requests

Get pending time off requests for a worker

get_worker

Get detailed profile for a specific worker

list_job_requisitions

List open job requisitions

list_supervisory_orgs

Shows org names, managers, and headcounts. List supervisory organizations

list_workers

Use the search parameter to filter by name, employee ID, or other attributes. List or search Workday workers

query_resource

Examples: locations, companies, costCenters, businessUnits. Query any Workday REST API resource

Example Prompts for Workday in Windsurf

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Windsurf agent to start working with Workday immediately.

"How many active employees do we have in the Engineering department?"

"Show me the PTO balance for John Smith."

"Run the 'Monthly Headcount Report' for Q1 2026."

Troubleshooting Workday MCP Server with Windsurf

Common issues when connecting Workday to Windsurf through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Server not connecting

Check Settings → MCP for the server status. Try toggling it off and on.

Workday + Windsurf FAQ

Common questions about integrating Workday MCP Server with Windsurf.

How does Windsurf discover MCP tools?

Windsurf reads the mcp_config.json file on startup and connects to each configured server via Streamable HTTP. Tools are listed in the MCP panel and available to Cascade automatically.

Can Cascade chain multiple MCP tool calls?

Yes. Cascade is an agentic system — it can plan and execute multi-step workflows, calling several tools in sequence to accomplish complex tasks without manual prompting between steps.

Does Windsurf support multiple MCP servers?

Yes. Add as many servers as needed in mcp_config.json. Each server's tools appear in the MCP panel and Cascade can use tools from different servers in a single flow.