Some workers replaced by AI are being asked back by their employers

Sixteen percent of workers in the United States and United Kingdom say they have been replaced by artificial intelligence and later asked to return to the same employer. The figure rises to 19 percent among American workers surveyed, compared to 13 percent in the U.K. The findings come from a survey of 2,036 employed adults conducted for talent assessment company SHL. The data is part of SHL's Talent Mobility at Work in 2026 report. Lucy Beaumont, senior vice-president of product and design at SHL, says the trend indicates some companies are automating roles too hastily. She says the company calls this "AI rebounding." "The pattern we see is automate first, understand the work second. That's backwards," Beaumont says. She notes that while AI can handle specific tasks, it often lacks the human judgment, customer knowledge and relationship skills inherent to many jobs.

The survey found that nearly half of workers report their employer is introducing AI tools. However, only 24 percent say jobs or processes are being redesigned to incorporate these new capabilities. A contributing factor may be that managers do not fully grasp their employees' skills, with just 42 percent of respondents saying their manager understands their abilities beyond their official job title. Younger employees appear more affected, as 24 percent of workers aged 18 to 24 report experiencing AI rebounding.

Beaumont warns that automating entry-level positions can have long-term consequences for talent development. "If you automate the bottom rung of the career ladder, you can't be surprised when you run short of people to climb it," she says. Employees who are asked back are setting conditions for their return. The survey indicates 51 percent would demand a significant pay increase, 42 percent would want written job-security guarantees and 40 percent would require full transparency on how AI would be used in their role.

These reversals can harm workplace trust and morale among remaining staff, according to Beaumont. "Trust is the real currency of the AI era. It takes years to build and one badly judged decision to lose," she says. She advises companies to assess employees' broader skills and consider redesigning roles before eliminating them. Beaumont also stresses that human resources leaders should be involved in automation decisions from the start. "Replacing people with AI saves on this year's cost base. Elevating people with AI is how you grow the business," she says.

With files from The Globe and Mail