Ontario Takes Aim at HR Ghosting: New Law to Reshape Hiring Practices

Lawmakers want to end HR ghosting during the interview process -- here's how

There may not be any laws against ghosting in the dating realm, but some governments are cracking down on the phenomenon in hiring. As of Jan. 1, 2026 some companies in Ontario, Canada, will be required to inform job applicants about the status of their candidacy within 45 days of a job interview, whether a decision has been made or not, effectively banning the practice of businesses ghosting candidates during the hiring process. The rule applies to companies with at least 25 employees and also seeks to eliminate the posting of ghost jobs, where companies post job ads for roles they're not actively hiring for. Under the law, businesses will be required to disclose whether a vacancy is actively being filled, as well as if they're using artificial intelligence to screen and select candidates. The law "makes clear that if someone applies to your company and takes the time to interview, that you owe them a clear response and a decision," says Bonnie Dilber, a recruiting leader at software company Zapier. "That feels like a minimum expectation," she tells CNBC Make It. "People who apply to jobs deserve to understand what's happening behind the scenes." Companies that don't comply with the new law may be fined up to $100,000 CAD (about $72,500 USD), Bloomberg reports, though first offenses may result in warnings or lesser fines.

Ghosting in interviews has gotten so bad that the Canadian government has stepped in to help job seekers

There's some good news for struggling Gen Z job applicants who are chasing recruiters for an answer: the era of ghosting may slowly be coming to an end. In Canada, at least. Viral videos from job-seekers are circulating all over TikTok, and candidates are all commiserating on one thing: they're burnt out from a tough white-collar job market, before even getting started with their careers. Frustrated Gen Zers are showing off their spreadsheets, showcasing their hundreds of applications, and airing out that they're going through several interview rounds just to end up getting ghosted. This viral video of a job-hunter showing her rejections even racked up over a million views. But there may be some hope going forward for the generation that's knocking out hundreds of applications with AI -- if they're in Canada. Starting January 1, companies in Ontario with at least 25 employees will be forced to inform candidates about their hiring status within 45 days of their interview, or the last interview if there were multiple. Employers also will have to disclose whether a vacancy is actively being filled and whether AI is being used to screen and select candidates. Some states in the U.S. have similarly attempted to pass legislation on ghosting and ghost jobs. In 2024, a New Jersey state legislator announced that it would fine employers up to $5,000 for failing to give candidates an estimated timeline for when a vacancy will be filled, and remove job listings within two weeks of filling the role. The proposed bill also requires companies to disclose when ads are posted for roles that don't exist. But the New Jersey Business and Industry Association opposed the bill on behalf of employers on the grounds of higher costs and "impracticality." A poll found that nine out of 10 workers say they've been ghosted by recruiters, with a majority of employees responding that they would rather hear anything than nothing at all. A separate Glassdoor study found that around 27% of applicants never even heard back after completing a final round interview. They are being left in the dark as to why they're getting ghosted so often -- but Anna Papalia, career influencer and author of Interviewology, tells Fortune that the reason it's so rampant is that nobody is holding recruiters accountable. Having previously worked as a director of talent acquisition for Conner Strong and Buckelew, she says hiring managers are too scared to tell applicants they didn't get the gig, and overall, employers have the upper hand in today's job market. "We need this law. We need it in America. We need it everywhere," Papalia says. "They'd rather breadcrumb [applicants] and play these mind games, or they just truly lack any courage or bravery." Papalia compared applying for work in a job-seeker's market to selling a house in a time of low or high demand. Since there's a surplus of applicants on the market, the chances of job-seekers landing their dream role becomes increasingly more difficult. In the meantime, her advice is to apply to as many jobs as possible. "If you're selling a house in a seller's market, you don't do anything at your house, and you'll get 40 offers," Papalia continues. "If you're selling it in a buyer's market, you have to get it staged, you have to get it repainted, and you have to make it the best it could possibly be." Her advice for Gen Z? Don't believe anything a company says until they make you an offer -- even when they say things like "we're putting an offer together" or "you're our number one applicant." Not only does ghosting discourage applicants in the short term, but it could damage the company's reputation in the future. A study found that 80% of job-seekers would not consider applying to a role at the same company that did not update them on the status of their application. "When you are treated really well in an interview process, you tell your friends and family you gain a certain respect for that organization," Papalia says. "When you're ghosted and when you're treated like you're disposable, you feel like sh-t, and that company's reputation is then on the line. And right now, companies aren't thinking very deeply about how they treat their candidates, how it really affects people."

Tired of being ghosted by HR? Not anymore: This country is making a law to shake up the hiring process

Ontario, Canada, is set to make 'HR ghosting' illegal by 2026, mandating companies with 25+ employees to respond to job applicants within 45 days post-interview. The new law also targets 'ghost job' postings, requiring employers to clarify role status and AI usage in screening. Non-compliance could lead to fines up to $72,500 USD. If you have ever spent hours perfecting your CV, sat through multiple interview rounds, and then... nothing -- you're not alone. Job seekers across the globe are all too familiar with the cold silence that follows an interview, a phenomenon known as HR ghosting. But in Ontario, Canada, that silence may soon be illegal. Starting January 1, 2026, companies with 25 or more employees in the province will be required to respond to job applicants within 45 days of an interview, regardless of whether a hiring decision has been made. The landmark rule, reported by CNBC Make It, aims to curb a frustrating practice that has left nearly half of job seekers hanging without closure. The law also tackles another troubling trend: ghost job postings. These are job ads for roles companies have no intention of filling, often used to collect resumes or create the illusion of growth. Under the new rules, employers must clearly state whether a role is actively being recruited for and disclose if they are using artificial intelligence to screen candidates. "It makes clear that if someone applies to your company and takes the time to interview, you owe them a clear response and a decision," said Bonnie Dilber, a recruiting leader at software company Zapier, in her interview with CNBC Make It. "That feels like a minimum expectation. People who apply to jobs deserve to understand what's happening behind the scenes." Non-compliance won't just hurt a company's reputation -- it could cost them up to 100,000 Canadian dollars (around $72,500 USD), according to Bloomberg. First-time offenders, however, may receive warnings or smaller penalties. Data from hiring platform Greenhouse shows just how widespread the issue is: 50% of job seekers report being ghosted after interviews, and 17% of all job listings in the second quarter of 2025 were for positions that companies never intended to fill. The frustration isn't limited to Canada. Lawmakers in the United States are also looking at solutions. New Jersey's proposal would require companies to notify interviewed candidates of decisions, remove filled job listings within two weeks, and label non-existent roles -- or face fines of up to $5,000. Kentucky's attempt to pass similar legislation failed, while California's version is currently under committee review. Dilber predicts AI-related hiring regulations might arrive even faster than anti-ghosting laws in other regions. New York City already became the first to ban the use of AI hiring tools without bias audits in 2023. With AI playing a bigger role in screening candidates, transparency could become a central demand from job seekers and lawmakers alike.