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Imagine being replaced by artificial intelligence at work, only to get a call from the same employer asking you to return.
For some workers, that scenario is already a reality.
New research from talent assessment company SHL found that 16 per cent of U.S. and U.K. workers surveyed say they’ve personally been replaced by AI and later asked back by the same employer. That figure jumps to 19 per cent in the U.S., compared with 13 per cent in the U.K.
The findings come from SHL’s Talent Mobility at Work in 2026: The Hidden Workforce report, based on a survey of 2,036 employed adults across the two countries.
Lucy Beaumont, senior vice-president of product and design at SHL, says the trend, which the company calls “AI rebounding,” suggests some employers are moving too quickly to reduce costs without fully understanding what employees contribute.
“The pattern we see is automate first, understand the work second. That’s backwards,” she says.
Ms. Beaumont says AI might be effective at completing specific tasks, but it can’t necessarily replace the judgment, customer knowledge and relationships that come with a role.
The research found nearly half of workers say their employer is introducing AI tools, but only 24 per cent say jobs or processes are being redesigned around AI capabilities.
Part of the problem is that employers might not recognize the skills they’re losing. Just 42 per cent of respondents say their manager fully understands their skills beyond their job title.
Younger workers could be particularly vulnerable, with 24 per cent of those ages 18 to 24 saying they’ve experienced AI rebounding.
Ms. Beaumont says entry-level jobs often involve tasks that are easier to automate, but they also provide opportunities to build experience and develop judgment. “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.
For employees, being asked back doesn’t necessarily mean returning under the same conditions.
The survey found 51 per cent of workers would want a significant pay increase before returning, 42 per cent would want written job-security guarantees and 40 per cent would want full transparency about how AI would be used in their role.
Ms. Beaumont says these reversals could also damage morale and retention among employees who remain.
“Trust is the real currency of the AI era. It takes years to build and one badly judged decision to lose,” she says.
Before replacing employees with AI, Ms. Beaumont recommends assessing their broader skills, considering whether roles could be redesigned instead of eliminated and exploring retraining opportunities. She also says HR leaders need to be involved in automation decisions from the beginning.
“Replacing people with AI saves on this year’s cost base. Elevating people with AI is how you grow the business,” she says.
Fast fact
Faking it
86 per cent
That’s how many workers say they faked enthusiasm at least once in the last week, according to a survey from online resume builder Kickresume.
Career guidance
Connection request
Are the messages you’re sending on LinkedIn actually helping you make new connections and grow your professional network?
LinkedIn career expert Catherine Fisher says when reaching out to someone, clearly explain what you’re hoping to gain, demonstrate that you’ve done your research and make your ask manageable – for example, requesting a 15-minute conversation with three prepared questions. The more specific and thoughtful your request, the easier it is for someone to understand how they can help and respond positively.
Quoted
Quitting culture
“Many of us have a deeply dysfunctional relationship with the act of quitting. Our beliefs that fuel this dysfunction aren’t just wrong – they’re bad for us. They’ve led to a chronic obsession with perseverance at all costs, and are causing us to live in a limiting, and even unhealthy, way,” journalist Lindsay Crouse writes in The Case for Quitting.
Here, Harvey Schachter summarizes some of Ms. Crouse’s reflections on perseverance and quitting, including why quitting is a valuable skill that people must be willing to learn.
On our radar
Empty plates
Canada’s food banks recorded a record 2.35 million monthly visits this year as more Canadians struggled to afford food alongside other basic necessities. Visits increased nearly 9 per cent over last year and have more than doubled since 2019.