Advancing Responsible AI in the Workplace: The Future of Privacy Forum’s Best Practices

Chandler C. Morse, vice president of public policy at Workday, outlines how the Future of Privacy Forum and Workday developed a roadmap for fostering responsible AI practices in the workplace.

At Workday, we believe that smart public policy is crucial for harnessing artificial intelligence’s (AI) immense potential and safeguarding people from its risks. We’re also committed to taking meaningful action because we recognize that organizations, too, must take proactive steps toward the responsible use of AI in our ever-evolving digital landscape.  

That is why Workday partners with policymakers and stakeholders around the globe to promote frameworks, regulations, and initiatives that cultivate trust in AI. When AI is trustworthy and supported by smart public policy, it can improve the way we work, support informed decisions about upskilling and career mapping the workforce, and foster greater access to opportunities. 

Today, the Future of Privacy Forum published the “Best Practices for AI and Workplace Assessment Technologies,” the result of a yearlong partnership with Workday, ADP, Indeed, and LinkedIn. These best practices are a commonsense roadmap for U.S. organizations that develop or use AI tools for consequential employment decisions, such as hiring and promotion. 

In addition to advancing responsible AI governance, the best practices are a valuable contribution to policy discussions about AI regulation and the future of work. We are proud to endorse this strategy and want to address common questions that our customers may have. 

What Are the Future of Privacy Forum’s Best Practices?

The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) is globally renowned for its research on privacy and responsible data practices. Workday co-developed the best practices with FPF because of the need for a robust, workable roadmap for responsible AI in the workplace that accounts for the shared responsibility of AI developers and deployers

The best practices leverage Workday’s experience in developing innovative enterprise AI capabilities that maintain a robust responsible AI governance program and safeguard privacy and data security. They are also informed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework (RMF)—of which Workday is an early adopter—and guidance from U.S. regulators, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

These best practices are a commonsense roadmap for U.S. organizations that develop or use AI tools for consequential employment decisions.

How Do These Best Practices Advance Responsible AI?

The best practices are a roadmap for U.S. organizations that develop or use AI for consequential employment decisions. They span six policy principles: 

  1. Nondiscrimination
  2. Responsible AI governance
  3. Transparency
  4. Privacy and data security
  5. Human oversight 
  6. Alternative review procedures 

While we encourage you to read the best practices in full, below is a summary of the key recommendations:

  • AI developers and deployers should conduct impact assessments on AI used for consequential employment decisions.
  • AI governance teams should have a clear line of communication to senior leadership and be operationally separate from teams developing, selling, implementing, or using AI tools for consequential employment decisions.
  • AI tools should be designed and operated to have an informed human in the loop.
  • While developers should take steps to identify and mitigate bias in AI tools, they should avoid claiming that AI tools are “bias-free.”

We call on other organizations to join us in endorsing and enacting the Future of Privacy Forum’s best practices today.

Taking Collective Action for Responsible AI

As policymakers chart a path forward on AI safeguards, they are eager to see organizations take action to develop and use AI responsibly. This is the latest in a series of steps Workday has taken to advance trust in AI, including championing the NIST AI RMF, working with European policymakers on the Artificial Intelligence Act, and helping drive the AI policy conversation in California. 

In Workday’s view, FPF’s best practices are a meaningful and robust roadmap to responsible AI in the workplace. We call on other organizations to join us in endorsing and enacting them today.

More Reading