AI hiring tools spark calls for transparency and human review rights

A recent Censuswide poll of 2,000 UK workers who applied for jobs in the last 24 months revealed that three-quarters were unaware of their right to request a human review of an automated rejection. Sheeraz Gulsher, CEO of People Like Us, is spearheading the "Reject the Rejections" campaign, calling on employers to audit AI recruitment systems, publish findings and allow independent assessment. The research also showed that 70 % of ethnically diverse applicants conceal information such as country of origin or religion on their CVs, compared with 57 % of white candidates, due to fears of algorithmic bias.

While only about 90 of 425 recruiters surveyed said they use AI for CV screening, many candidates tailor applications for perceived bots, leading to homogenised, AI-polished resumes. Ongoing legal claims against Workday and guidance from the ICO and the Information Commissioner’s Office stress the importance of transparency and human oversight. Advocates argue that informing applicants of their right to a human review could improve feedback, trust and fairness in hiring.