Talent News Round-Up: Workday Lawsuit, Medieval Recruitment, and Mom Jobs
Staying updated on the latest workforce trends is crucial for TA leaders and HR professionals. This week, we delve into three significant developments shaping the talent landscape and get SocialTalent’s CEO, Johnny Campbell’s first-hand takes on these pieces.
- Lawyers Weekly: Workday faces a nationwide collective lawsuit over alleged AI hiring bias, as legal pressure mounts amid federal deregulation.
- Raconteur: A new UK taskforce aims to ditch CVs and references for tech-driven, skills-based hiring—but can it truly modernize recruitment?
- Sixth Tone: China’s rising “mom jobs” offer flexible work for mothers, but risk reinforcing gender inequality without broader societal change.
Join us as we explore these pivotal insights and their implications for the future of work.
1. AI Discrimination Lawsuit Against Workday Expands To Collective Action
Source: Lawyers Weekly
A lawsuit accusing Workday’s AI recruitment tools of discrimination has expanded into a nationwide collective action. Plaintiff Derek Mobley, a 40-year-old Black man, alleges he was rejected for over 100 jobs due to algorithmic bias. A U.S. District Court judge has now allowed age discrimination claims to proceed collectively for applicants over 40. Amid Trump’s push to dismantle protections under Biden’s AI executive order, legal experts predict a rise in private lawsuits over algorithmic hiring bias.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“Wow, this is potentially a big piece of news. What do you need to take away from it? Every organization needs to be able to prove that they have a fair, non-discriminatory hiring process. Don’t expect it to stop with this case and with age as the only factor!“
2. Hiring Taskforce To Transform ‘Medieval’ Recruitment Process
Source: Raconteur
A new UK hiring taskforce, led by the Better Hiring Institute and Viscount Camrose, is set to overhaul what it calls a “medieval” recruitment system. The group aims to replace outdated tools like CVs and references with tech-driven, skills-based alternatives—potentially using blockchain to verify credentials. It will focus on strategy, policy, and technology to improve hiring speed, satisfaction, and economic productivity, amid rising AI use, hiring friction, and record-low employer intent to recruit.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“So hands-up who thinks a government task force led by a Viscount is going to fix the world of recruiting and get rid of the CV? FFS. A Viscount? Seriously? I can’t help but think of tasty chocolate biscuits with a minty centre. Blockchain ledgers and automation; yes! I want it all but I just don’t think Lord Biscuit is going to fix it any time soon.“
3. Balancing Act: Can ‘Mom Jobs’ Help China’s Women Have It All?
Source: Sixth Tone
China’s “mom jobs” — flexible roles designed to help mothers balance work and childcare — are gaining traction, offering women structure and community after stepping away from careers. While these roles provide valuable re-entry points into the workforce, they’re mostly low-paid, low-skilled, and risk reinforcing traditional gender roles. Experts warn that without broader cultural and structural changes, these jobs may entrench inequality rather than solve it. Still, models like Hangzhou’s Tongxin Center offer hopeful blueprints for inclusive, empowering employment.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“As a European, reading this article makes me very uneasy. On one hand, I applaud the nationwide movement to encourage more flexible working hours so that parents can return to the workforce and balance child care needs. However, we’re not talking about “parents”, are we? We’re talking about moms and moms only, which is the bit that makes me really uncomfortable. Perhaps it’s timing? In 1980s Ireland, when I was growing up, my own mother was lucky enough to be able to take on a role like this, 10-12 hours a day, 6 days a week. That was the world we lived in! Is China taking a step forward? I will leave that to you to debate.“
