The Workday Lawsuit & AI Bias: What L&D Leaders Must Learn Now

AI is everywhere in our work right now—from hiring to performance management to evaluation. But what happens when the very tools we're relying on to make decisions are quietly reinforcing bias and producing dirty data? In this episode of the Kirkpatrick Podcast, I dive into the growing conversation around AI ethics and accountability, sparked by the recent Workday lawsuit over discriminatory hiring practices. While it may feel like a "tech" problem, the truth is: this affects every one of us in L&D, HR, and leadership. I share real-world examples from my own evaluation projects where unchecked AI outputs could have changed the strategic direction of an entire organization—based on only three voices out of 2,400 responses. That's the danger of handing over too much decision-making power to tools without proper oversight. At the end of the day, AI is just a tool. We are accountable for how it's used. And if we don't build in the right checks and balances, we risk creating biased rubrics, flawed evaluations, and ultimately, harmful business decisions. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the Workday lawsuit is just the beginning of AI accountability in business. How AI bias creeps into evaluation and performance data. A real-world story of how AI almost misled a global membership organization. Why human oversight—not another AI—is the only real safeguard. Practical steps to keep your data clean, your evaluations fair, and your organization protected. The skills L&D leaders must develop to thrive in an AI-driven workplace. This is not about being anti-AI—I love AI and the efficiencies it creates. But if we don't use it responsibly, we risk undermining the very outcomes we're trying to achieve. 👉 Listen now to learn how you can lead responsibly in this new AI era. Learn more about the Kirkpatrick Model Watch the Show on YouTube! Submit your Questions/Stories: Do you have a question you would like us to answer on the Kirkpatrick Podcast? Have a story about how the Kirkpatrick Podcast or other Kirkpatrick events/programs have positively impacted your career? We would love to hear from you! Follow this link to submit your questions and/or stories, and we may just share them on the next episode of the Kirkpatrick Podcast.