California Bans Automated Firing Without Human Review
California enacts the No Robo Bosses Act, limiting AI-only employment decisions.
Why it matters: As AI use in HR grows, this law mandates human oversight in firing and discipline, impacting compliance and legal strategies for employers.
- Governor Gavin Newsom signed the No Robo Bosses Act (SB 947) on September 30, 2026.
- The law prohibits relying solely on automated decision systems (ADS) for firing or disciplining employees.
- Human review is required to corroborate AI-based disciplinary or termination decisions with additional information.
- Employers must notify employees in writing if AI played a primary role in such decisions, providing data details and a human contact.
- The law applies starting July 1, 2027, and covers employees but not independent contractors or job applicants.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the landmark No Robo Bosses Act (SB 947) into law on September 30, 2026. This makes California the first state in the U.S. to require human oversight in AI-powered employment decisions specifically involving discipline and termination.
The law prohibits employers from relying solely on automated decision systems (ADS) — defined as any AI or statistical models producing simplified outputs that materially affect employees — to fire or discipline workers. Instead, a human must corroborate such decisions using additional evidence like managerial evaluations or personnel files.
Employers must also provide written notice to employees if an ADS played a primary role in their termination or disciplinary action. This notice must include information about the data used and a human point of contact for further discussion, enhancing transparency around AI’s role in workplace decisions.
The No Robo Bosses Act applies only to employees and excludes independent contractors and job applicants. It does not regulate AI use in hiring processes, focusing instead on protections against potentially erroneous or biased automated decisions in discipline and termination.
Enforcement will be carried out by the California Labor Commissioner, the Attorney General, and local prosecutors. Senator Jerry McNerney, who authored the bill, emphasized the law’s intent to prevent workers from being disciplined or fired by "robo bosses" prone to errors and bias.
The law becomes operative on July 1, 2027, giving employers time to adjust policies and ensure compliance.
By the numbers:
- September 30, 2026 — Date No Robo Bosses Act was signed into law
- July 1, 2027 — Date the law becomes operative
- SB 947 — Official bill number for the No Robo Bosses Act