Robot relations departments may become reality in future workplaces

A California bill that would ban the use of "robo bosses" for firing or disciplining workers has passed the legislature and awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature by the end of September. The measure was spurred by incidents such as Andon Labs’ Luna system recommending an employee’s termination and a lawsuit against Meta alleging AI‑assisted layoff decisions. Surveys from United for Respect show growing concern among Walmart and Amazon staff about automated HR decisions, while Just Capital reports that half of the largest U.S. firms do not disclose key AI governance information. Experts from the International Labour Organization, MIT and the Technical University of Munich echo the need for new departments or expanded HR roles to protect workers, ensure transparency and manage the evolving human‑AI relationship.