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.
International insurance firm AXA has announced 150 job cuts in the UK. The Union Amicus suggests the real figure is nearer 200 however, and has vowed to fight the plans. Amicus said AXA commercial insurance sites in Cardiff, Carlisle, Maidstone, Sheffield have been earmarked for closure. AXA expressed regret at the job losses, and said they were caused by changes to their business model. Regional officer Hugh Jones-Glass said the union would 'robustly challenge' the business case. It plans to focus its argument on the financial reasons behind the cutbacks. Mr Jones-Glass said: 'We are alarmed at the numbers of potential compulsory redundancies and have agreed with the company the implementation of a voluntary redundancy programme in the sites remaining open.'
Mark Cliff, distribution director at AXA Insurance, said: 'It is always regrettable when jobs are lost but consolidation in the broker market means that we have to change our operating model and distribution network so that we are better placed to meet both broker and customers' needs by being a real expert friend.'
Eurofound (2006), Axa, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 59055, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/59055.