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AI in HR: The CHRO's Governance Handbook

Compliance, works council, and Decision Layer for the EU AI Act high-risk deadline of 2 August 2026 (postponement to Dec 2027 provisionally agreed - Digital Omnibus, May 2026). Free PDF download.

A selection from over 5,000 projects in 25 years of software development

Airbus Volkswagen Shell Renault Evonik Vattenfall Philips KPMG

What you'll find in this handbook

The EU AI Act classifies AI systems in HR as high-risk; under current law the obligations apply from 2 August 2026, but following the provisional Digital Omnibus agreement of 7 May 2026 they are set to be postponed to 2 December 2027 (formal adoption still pending, as of June 2026). 73% of organisations still lack a governance framework (ISACA 2024). This handbook bridges the gap - with concrete frameworks, checklists, and a readiness assessment.

1

Why the CHRO must lead AI governance in HR - not IT

Governance ownership, role concepts, and the CHRO checklist.

2

Three types of decisions: Human, Rules Engine, AI

The Decision Framework with Agent Readiness Score for every HR process.

3

EU AI Act: 6 mandatory requirements in detail

Art. 9-15 with a compliance checklist you can tick off.

4

works council as design partner

Co-determination rights, works council agreement as technical constraint, AI literacy.

5

4 HR processes in the Decision Layer

Payroll, travel expenses, recruiting, leave & absence - with zero-touch rates.

6

Readiness assessment (10 questions)

Where does your organisation stand? Self-assessment with score and recommendations.

Download for free

PDF, 25 pages. Delivered instantly by email.

EU AI Act compliance checklist
Decision Framework (H/R/A)
Hands-on readiness assessment
90-day implementation plan

5 key numbers from the handbook

73%

of organisations without a formal AI governance framework

ISACA 2024

6

mandatory requirements for high-risk HR AI from 2 August 2026 (postponement to Dec 2027 provisionally agreed - Digital Omnibus, May 2026)

EU AI Act, Art. 9-15

85-92%

zero-touch rate with Decision Layer in HR processes

Gosign client projects

1:4-5

investment ratio: 1 EUR technology = 4-5 EUR governance

McKinsey 2024

60-80%

fewer correction postings through explicit rule sets

Hackett Group 2024

15M

EUR maximum penalty for high-risk violations

EU AI Act, Art. 99

Who is this handbook for?

CHRO / VP HR

You are responsible for the AI strategy in HR and need a framework that convinces the works council, legal, and the board at the same time.

Head of People Operations

You implement AI-powered processes and need clear decision rules: what to automate, what not.

Works Council / Staff Representatives

You review AI use in HR and need transparency: which decisions does the agent make, which are made by humans?

HR Compliance / Legal

You need to implement EU AI Act requirements and need a compliance checklist with concrete measures.

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HR Assessment

HR Agent Readiness Assessment

15 questions for your leadership team

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this eBook for?

For CHROs, VP HR, Heads of People Operations, and HR leaders in organisations with 500+ employees that use or plan to use AI systems.

What makes this handbook different from other AI guides?

Concrete governance frameworks instead of general recommendations. Including works council perspective, EU AI Act checklist, Decision Layer architecture, and a hands-on readiness assessment.

Is the eBook really free?

Yes. We only ask for your email address. You receive the PDF immediately and optionally the monthly AI Governance Briefing.

How current is the EU AI Act information?

As of June 2026. Including Digital Omnibus status: the provisional agreement of 7 May 2026 would postpone the high-risk deadline from 2 August 2026 to 2 December 2027, with formal adoption still pending.

Book a consultation

We'll show you the Decision Layer applied to your own HR processes. 30 minutes, free of charge.