California SB 947 bars employers from fully outsourcing discipline and firing to AI

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 947, the "No Robo Bosses Act," which bars employers in California from fully outsourcing disciplinary and termination decisions to automated decision systems.

Under the law, employers must verify AI outputs and give employees a description of the reasons for the decision, including the data used.

The law takes effect July 1, 2027. Affected employees may file complaints with the California Labor Commissioner if they believe the required process was not followed correctly in a firing decision, according to the reporting on the bill.