Erickson Senior Living’s recent transition from Workforce Central to the UKG Pro platform, supported by HyBridge Solutions, is a prime example of how modern workforce management systems can significantly improve the employee experience. Managed by Nathan Blumberg, Senior Director, Planning & Strategy, this ambitious project aimed to provide Erickson’s hourly workforce with enhanced flexibility, visibility, and control over their schedules and attendance.
With HyBridge’s expertise, the integration of UKG Pro with Workday enabled a smoother, more efficient workflow, ultimately driving better employee engagement and operational performance.
About Erickson Senior Living
Erickson Senior Living, with more than 16,000 employees, serves over 30,000 residents across its national network of communities. What sets them apart in the industry is their size and the breadth of services they offer. From dining and housekeeping to maintenance, transportation, on-site medical centers, and full continuum of healthcare offerings for seniors, Erickson’s operations are both unique and complex.
The workforce includes a significant number of hourly employees, many of whom are students employed in dining services. Because Erickson employs students year round, they required a system to meet their workforce management needs that could manage the complexity of student schedules during the school year. Blumberg highlighted the importance of a system that could accommodate these fluctuations in staffing while offering the necessary flexibility and control to employees.
The Decision to Transition to UKG Pro
The decision to move to UKG Pro stemmed from a desire to modernize and improve the overall employee experience. Erickson Senior Living had previously used Workforce Central, an older UKG platform, but saw the opportunity to take their workforce management to the next level.
The implementation of UKG Pro allowed employees to easily view and pick up available shifts, ensuring better alignment between their personal and professional lives. This not only improved workforce management but also empowered employees to take control of their schedules, enhancing job satisfaction and retention.
How HyBridge Solutions Helped
When it comes to implementation, many companies seek partners that can take them from point A to point B. However, for some, the goal is more ambitious—moving from A to C, making transformative changes rather than simply adopting new systems.
For Erickson Senior Living, HyBridge Solutions stood out from the crowd. While UKG Pro was used for time, scheduling, and attendance management, Erickson Senior Living relied on Workday as their system of record for the rest of the company, including payroll. The integration between UKG and Workday was critical, and HyBridge Solutions played a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth transition.
“HyBridge was a great partner,” Blumberg noted. “They lived in both worlds, knowing the pros and cons of each system. Integration was a challenge, but HyBridge helped us make informed decisions about which system should handle specific tasks.”
One example of this was the decision to manage time-off balances through Workday, even though it required employees to get accustomed to periodic updates rather than real-time data in UKG. The seamless collaboration between HyBridge, UKG, and Workday ensured that the integration worked efficiently, allowing payroll data to flow smoothly between systems.
Project Leadership and Change Management
Blumberg not only played a key role in selecting UKG Pro but became the project leader.
The project was treated as an enterprise priority, with executive sponsors and dedicated work streams for change management, scheduling, attendance, integration, and reporting.
“Change management was huge,” Blumberg emphasized. “It wasn’t just about implementing the technology; it was about ensuring our employees were prepared for the change and that we communicated effectively throughout the process.”
HyBridge Solutions introduced a formal change management methodology, which included the use of “change champions” across Erickson’s communities. This approach ensured that stakeholders were engaged, and communication was clear and consistent, leading to a successful rollout.
Implementation Timeline & Approach
The implementation timeline was ambitious. From the moment Erickson Senior Living signed the contract in March, they went live on October 1, with the first set of communities transitioning to UKG Pro. Blumberg reflected on the decision to launch quickly across all communities rather than spreading the implementation over several months.
“We had 22 communities to transition, and we decided to do two launches in October. We didn’t want to be in two systems for too long, so we launched most of the communities on October 1 and the rest later in the month.” – Nathan Blumberg
This rapid implementation required extensive communication and change management efforts, but the benefits of moving quickly outweighed the challenges. Blumberg praised HyBridge’s ability to guide the team through the process and help resolve any issues that arose during the go-live period.
Overcoming Challenges & Lessons Learned
Like any major project, Erickson Senior Living faced challenges during the implementation of UKG Pro. One significant issue was related to the business structure and scheduling within UKG. The company’s complex organizational structure led to an overwhelming number of cost centers, which created unnecessary work for schedulers.
“UKG and HyBridge helped us reevaluate our structure and adjust the scheduling setup to reduce the workload. We had to pivot late in the project, but having leadership buy-in allowed us to make the necessary changes.” – Nathan Blumberg
Training was another area that required more attention than initially anticipated. Erickson Senior Living expanded their training efforts, dedicating resources to support schedulers and employees during the transition. The company also encountered challenges with Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) elements, a common issue in healthcare organizations post-implementation.
However, with the support of HyBridge, these challenges were addressed, and the system was refined.
The Value of HyBridge Solutions
Rather than simply guiding Erickson Senior Living to a new system, HyBridge pushed them to think critically about their operations. They asked challenging questions that encouraged deeper reflection on existing practices and introduced the concept of a formal change management process. This allowed for a more structured and strategic transformation.
“They challenged us to rethink our processes, helped us question why we were doing things the way we were, and ultimately allowed us to implement best practices that will take our business to the next level.” – Nathan Blumberg
While many consultants focus on bridging the gap between old and new systems, HyBridge Solutions goes a step further. They help organizations achieve meaningful change, taking them to the next level of performance and efficiency.
What’s Next?
Although Erickson Senior Living successfully went live with UKG Pro, Blumberg emphasized that the work was far from over. The organization established a post-implementation ownership structure to ensure ongoing product development and improvement.
“While our HR team owns time and attendance, we’ve given functional ownership to different departments for scheduling,” Blumberg said. “This allows for continuous improvement and prioritization of new iterations and features.” – Nathan Blumberg
One of the exciting developments is the introduction of rotation scheduling, a feature commonly used in Canada but new to the U.S. market. Erickson Senior Living has already begun to leverage this functionality to further enhance scheduling flexibility for their workforce.
Blumberg also highlighted the importance of mobile capabilities in the future of workforce management. UKG Pro’s mobile functionality allows employees to punch in using their phones, view schedules, and pick up shifts from home, offering greater flexibility and convenience.
Advice for Others
Blumberg’s advice for other organizations embarking on a similar journey is clear: prioritize change management and communication from the start. “You need to make this an enterprise priority,” he stressed. “Carve out dedicated time for the project, get buy-in from leadership, and ensure that communication and transparency are at the forefront.”
He also emphasized the importance of investing in dedicated resources for the project. Rather than adding this initiative to employees’ existing responsibilities, Erickson Senior Living made a conscious decision to allocate time and resources to ensure its success.
A Successful UKG Implementation with HyBridge Solutions
Erickson Senior Living’s transition to UKG Pro with HyBridge Solutions has significantly improved the employee experience and streamlined workforce management.
While challenges arose, the dedication to change management, strong leadership, and a commitment to flexibility and communication ensured a successful rollout. The future of Erickson Senior Living’s workforce management looks promising as they continue to iterate and improve upon the progress made.
About HyBridge Solutions
At HyBridge Solutions, we go beyond the implementation by fully partnering with our clients to understand their unique business, culture, and goals, ensuring seamless integration of UKG® solutions. With over 15 years as a leading UKG Services partner, we’ve consistently delivered exceptional, white-glove services to some of the most complex organizations in the U.S. Our consultants bring an average of 15 years of industry experience, meaning we understand not only the software but also your business’s practical day-to-day needs.
We pride ourselves on offering comprehensive, end-to-end solutions, from strategic road mapping of your UKG implementations to system optimizations, migrations, and onboarding new companies. HyBridge’s collaborative approach, alongside our industry-proven methodology, ensures that every project runs smoothly with minimal disruption. Our successful outcomes are reflected in the five-star reviews and scores we receive through Raven Intelligence, affirming our commitment to quality and long-term client success.
Learn more about HyBridge Solutions on their Raven profile.
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