3695835 - Error "Unknown Event Reason '{0}'. Cannot initiate workflow" occurs during the hiring process when using configurable hire templates.

• An error "Unknown Event Reason ‘{0}’. Cannot initiate workflow" occurs when attempting to submit a workflow for hiring an employee using the configurable hire template
• New Hire - onSave rule on Hire Template doesn't work during workflow trigger.

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central

Prerequisite:

• Enable Hire Template object related configuration
• Create and assign a onsave business rule based on Hire Template to raise message with ERROR severity.

Steps:

1. Go to Add new employee
2. Fill in the details and select custom Hire template
3. Proceed till the last portlet->Save
4. Workflow triggers
5. Click Submit
6. Error occurs

Engineering team has fixed the issue in 1H 2026 release.

Workaround:

Please change the severity to Warning while raising message via business rule based on Hire Template to avoid hard stop.

Configuring a Hire Template

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