HR profile editable field configuration

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of HR profile editable field configuration

    This configuration option in Human Resources Configuration allows ServiceNow customers to control which HR profile fields employees and managers can edit. It distinguishes betweenpersonal information fieldstypically editable by employees themselves andsensitive and employment information fieldsthat require manager or HR intervention via change requests. This ensures proper governance and data integrity in employee profiles.

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    Key Features

    • Editable Field List: A configurable allow list property (snhrcore.hrprofileeditablefields) defines which HR profile fields users can modify directly. This list is managed as a comma-separated property accessible via HR Administration Properties.
    • Personal Information Fields: These include home address, personal email, phone numbers, name components, date of birth, and similar fields. By default, all personal info fields are enabled for employee self-service editing via the HRSM Portal. Admins can disable editing of specific fields as needed.
    • Sensitive and Employment Information Fields: Fields like department, position, employment start/end dates, employee number, manager, and probation details require managers to submit employee information change requests to update them. Managers cannot edit these fields directly on HR profiles.
    • Security and Access Control: Access to sensitive data such as Social Security number is restricted and controlled by ACLs. The snhrcore.secureinforeader role (included in the manager role) is required to view such sensitive fields.
    • Change Request Workflow: When managers submit change requests for employment or sensitive fields, the HR Employee Change Workflow automates opening an HR case, updating the profile upon approval, and closing the case.
    • At a Glance Panel: The Agent Workspace’s At a Glance panel displays HR profile fields dynamically based on the profile data. Fields without data do not appear, and additional fields can be added by configuring the form layout.

    Key Outcomes

    • Enables organizations to maintain control over employee data by allowing employees to update only appropriate personal fields while requiring HR or managers to approve sensitive data changes.
    • Supports compliance and security by enforcing role-based access to sensitive HR profile information.
    • Automates HR case management and approvals for employment-related changes, reducing manual administrative work.
    • Improves user experience by allowing employees to directly update common personal details through the HRSM Portal.
    • Gives HR agents and managers an efficient interface with the At a Glance panel tailored to show relevant employee information.

    An option in Human Resources Configuration provides a list of HR profile fields that can be enabled for edit. Understand the difference between how the personal and the employment information fields are updated in the HR profile based on this configuration.

    Typically, organizations allow employees to update certain personal information, but not sensitive and employment information. HR agents or managers change this information. For example, employees can change their home address and personal email address, but the manager must update the position when the employee is promoted.

    Note:
    Use the configurable allow list to add fields that users can modify themselves. This allow list is a system property and accessed by going to All > HR Administration > Properties. The list of user editable fields appears as comma separated list. The property name is sn_hr_core.hr_profile_editable_fields.
    For more information about adding or modifying HR profiles, see Add or modify an HR profile

    The HR profile fields that users or managers can edit without HR approval include <number of fields> option in Human Resources Configuration provides the list of editable HR profile fields. The following list of fields indicates which of the configurable fields contain personal and which contain sensitive and employment information.

    Table 1. Configurable fields
    Personal information fields Sensitive and employment information fields
    • Home address
    • Home city
    • Home country
    • Home phone
    • Home state/province
    • Home zip/postal
    • Middle name
    • Personal email
    • Personal mobile phone
    • Prefix
    • Work email
    • Work mobile
    • Work phone
    • Date of birth
    • Department
    • Employee number
    • Employment end date
    • Employment start date
    • Employment type
    • Ethnicity
    • First name
    • Gender
    • Last name
    • Location
    • Location type
    • Manager
    • Nationality
    • Notice period
    • Place of birth
    • Position
    • Probation end date
    • Probation period
    • Time type

    In the configuration option field list, all the personal information fields are enabled for edit by default. All employees can open their HR profile from the HRSM Portal and update these fields. If you do not want to allow employees to update one or more of these fields, disable editing by clearing the check box in the configurable list. For example, you do not want employees updating their work email address or phone number.

    ACLs control the HR profile personal information fields, which can be modified for more controlled access.

    You must have the sn_hr_core.secure_info_reader role to view the Social Security field on an HR profile. This role is contained in the sn_hr_core.manager role.

    The employment information fields that you enable for edit allows a manager to update the field. However, the manager cannot open an employee HR profile. The manager must submit an employee information change request with the updated information. When the request to change the editable fields is submitted, the HR Employee Change Workflow takes the following actions.
    • Opens an HR case.
    • Updates the employee HR profile.
    • Closes the HR case.

    To update any HR profile fields that are not editable, employees or their managers submit an employee information change request. An HR case is created and the HR Employee Change Workflow is started. The workflow requires that the change request is approved. When it is approved, the fields are updated and the HR case is closed.

    At a Glance panel in Agent Workspace for HR Service Delivery

    The fields that appear on the At a Glance panel in Agent Workspace for HR Service Delivery are dependent on what fields appear in an HR profile.
    Note:
    Fields with no data on the HR profile do not appear in the At a Glance panel.

    If you want additional fields to appear on the At a Glance panel, see Configuring the form layout.