Workday import fails with the following error: 

An error occurred during import
null; uncategorized SQLException; SQL state [HY000]; error code [1366]; Incorrect string value: '\xF0\x9F\x92\x9E' for column 'firstName' at row 1; nested exception is java.sql.SQLException: Incorrect string value: '\xF0\x9F\x92\x9E' for column 'firstName' at row 1

NOTE: This may also occur for other attributes, and the error message will reflect the affected attribute, such as lastName, streetAddress, employeeNumber, and so on.

• Workday
• Import
• Unsupported Character

This error is related to the special characters, including emojis, mathematical symbols, and/or foreign characters used in the user's first name being imported from Workday.

NOTE: This article focuses on the error for firstName, and it is highly recommended that all of the user's Workday values be verified to ensure that all unsupported characters have been removed.

1. Verify that all the user's first names attempting to be imported from Workday do not have any special characters, including emojis, mathematical symbols, and/or foreign characters in their first names.
2. Once the user's firstName value has been corrected (remove all unsupported characters), attempt the import again.