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.
Smiths Group, the diversified engineering company, is closing a medical devices manufacturing plant in Hythe, Kent, with the loss of 534 jobs. It will transfer the plant's work to Mexico. Martin Jamieson, managing director of the Smiths medical business, said: 'This move is driven by the global competitive environment for our business. Our competitors have all made similar moves to low-cost countries, which makes today's announcement unavoidable.'
Eurofound (2006), Smiths Group, Offshoring/Delocalisation in United Kingdom, factsheet number 63223, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/63223.