The Fair Hiring Timelines Act is a proposed federal standard requiring employers to provide a clear hiring status update to candidates within a defined timeframe after a formal interview.
The Act does not regulate who gets hired, require feedback, or interfere with business judgment. It establishes a minimum communication standard so that candidates are not left indefinitely without closure after engaging in a formal interview process.
The goal is simple: if an employer interviews a candidate, the employer must close the loop.
Under the Fair Hiring Timelines Act, employers who conduct interviews must provide one of the following within the required timeframe:
No explanation is required.
No hiring decision is forced.
No documentation burden is imposed beyond basic acknowledgment.
The Act applies to employers recruiting for positions performed in the United States, including employers that use third-party recruiters, staffing agencies, or offshore applicant tracking systems.
Interviewing requires time, preparation, emotional energy, and often personal sacrifice. When employers fail to communicate after interviews, candidates are left in prolonged uncertainty that can delay financial decisions, increase anxiety, and erode trust in the hiring process.
Surveys consistently show that a majority of job seekers report negative mental health effects after being ghosted by employers. Despite this, no federal standard currently requires employers to provide post-interview communication.
This Act closes that gap.