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.
Job losses are expected following the news that the supermarket chain Tesco is planning to close one of its distribution centres in Northampton. As part of a business review Moulton Park depot will close and some of the work from the Brackmills depot will transfer to Daventry and south Wales. More than 200 people work at both depots in Northants but the extent of the job losses is not yet known. Tesco said it may consider requests from staff for voluntary redundancy. The Union Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) said it would explore all the options available to the affected staff and, if there were redundancies, it would make sure the best packages available were offered. In a statement, Tesco said it was discussing various options with everyone affected, including considering requests for voluntary redundancy. It was also possible that some staff will be found other roles elsewhere within Tesco, the company said.
Eurofound (2006), Tesco, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 63154, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/63154.