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.
Tulip, the British meat producer has confirmed that it will close its fresh pork products manufacturing plant in Tipton, England, making 642 employees redundant. According to the company, the date of the closure will be decided as part of individual consultations with affected employees.
A spokesperson for the company said that the site would require major “investment and redevelopment” to make production sustainable and Tulip will instead move operations elsewhere in the UK.
A regional officer of the trade union Unite said the news was ‘devastating.’ Tulip is one the UK’s largest meat producers, with 15 production sites across the UK. There have recently been a number of coronavirus infections at Tipton and the company has suspended exports from this site.
Eurofound (2020), Tulip, Closure in United Kingdom, factsheet number 101181, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101181.