Workday has been accused of developing recruiting algorithms that yield biased treatment of Black applicants aged over 40, according to The Register.
According to a class-action lawsuit, the firm unlawfully offers an algorithm-based system for screening candidates that determines whether an employer should hire or reject an applicant based on race, age and/or disability.
The case centers on the alleged experiences of Derek Mobley—a Black man over 40 who has suffered from anxiety and depression. Court documents show that since 2018 he has submitted 80–100 applications to firms that use Workday as a hiring-screening tool.
He was repeatedly rejected despite holding a bachelor’s degree in finance and a junior network-systems administrator qualification.
«Workday’s screening tools enable clients to manipulate them and tailor them in discriminatory ways for hiring and onboarding staff. The company’s products process and interpret a candidate’s qualifications and recommend whether to hire or reject them», the suit states.
The plaintiffs say the tools are based on subjective practices, leading to bias against African American applicants, people over 40, and people with disabilities, according to the filings.
The plaintiffs also allege that the company’s AI systems can absorb the conscious and unconscious biases of the people who develop them.
Workday characterised the suit as unfounded. The firm’s developers said they are committed to dependable AI and act responsibly and transparently in building their services.
«We participate in risk-based screening across the product lifecycle to mitigate any unintended consequences. […] We also conduct legal research to ensure regulatory compliance», said Workday.
As reported in May 2022, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden warned about the threats posed by deploying AI tools in recruitment.