Ethics in the digital workplace
Digitisation and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can affect working conditions in a variety of ways and their use in the workplace raises a host of new ethical concerns.
The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, the British fashion retail company, has made around 100 employees redundant with immediate effect in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The affected employees worked in head office and business function roles in London, Carlisle and Cardiff.
Responding to criticism for cutting jobs instead of sending staff on temporary paid leave, a representative of the company said that it would take a long time before the high street fashion market improves. Furthermore, all Edinburgh Woollen Mill retailer stores are closed from Sunday 22 March until further notice, and the company is considering reducing salaries by up to 50% for the remaining staff in the coming weeks
The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group operates countrywide, and owns a number of well-known British fashion brands, including Peacocks and Jaeger.
Eurofound (2020), Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 100368, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/100368.