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.
Procter & Gamble said in its statement that it is to transfer manufacturing of its skin-care products division from Nenagh to Lodz in Poland over a two-year period with the loss of 280 jobs. Concern had been growing for the future of the entire Nenagh operation which employs 500 people. But the company said that it will retain its cosmetics manufacturing division in the North Tipperary town, making the jobs of 220 workers secure. The decision by the company to transfer production of its skin- care products to Lodz follows a year-long sourcing study by the company to identify what it described as "the optimum manufacturing locations for the European supply of skin-care and cosmetics". According to the statement, the decision to move its skin-care manufacturing division to Poland was a result of the growing demand for the company's products such as Oil of Olay in eastern Europe. "Given the growth of Procter & Gamble's skin care business in central and eastern Europe, it was decided from an economic and financial perspective to locate the source of skin-care production closer to these fast growing markets," said the company. According to the company, the cosmetics business is more complex and higher value with a greater focus on western Europe which allows the company retain its cosmetic manufacturing division at the plant in Nenagh.
Eurofound (2007), Procter & Gamble, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Ireland, factsheet number 65058, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65058.