Research Report: Should AI Be Blamed for Hiring Decisions, or Should the Employer Bear Responsibility? Landmark Mobley v. Workday Case Raises the Question but Is the Wrong Case
On May 16, 2025, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin of the Northern District of California granted preliminary certification of the case of Mobley v. Workday as a collective action. Specifically, the suit claims that Workday’s artificial intelligence (AI)-based applicant recommendation system unfairly discriminates against job seekers above the age of 40. The plaintiff claims that he was denied across multiple companies using the same system. The judge’s preliminary certification of the case as a collective action enables qualified individuals across the U.S. to opt in to the lawsuit.