SHL Survey Finds Nearly 1 in 5 US Workers Laid Off or Replaced by AI Were Later Asked to Return

A 2026 SHL survey of 1,000+ US workers conducted June-July found nearly 1 in 5 said they were laid off or replaced by AI and then asked to return. Among those asked back, nearly half demanded significant pay rises, 43% required written job security, 40% wanted transparency on AI deployment and 30% expected a leadership apology; only 6.6% refused outright. The findings land alongside Orgvue's March 2026 report that 32% of AI-driven layoff organizations have rehired staff.