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.
Serco, a private firm that runs the immigration centre Yarl's Wood, have announced plans to make between 100 and 185 redundancies at the centre. Yarl's Wood, which opened in 2001, holds immigrants who are waiting to be deported or are having their case considered. The GMB union said it had been told of proposals to cut the 339-strong workforce at the Bedfordshire site by half, and vowed to oppose any redundancies. GMB national officer Paul Campbell said: 'We will totally oppose any reduction in manning levels and have given a deadline for these proposals to be withdrawn.' A Serco spokesperson said: 'We have begun a consultation with staff on proposed changes to work practices. That sets out the need for more flexible working practices and greater efficiency.' 'We have said that this will lead to some redundancies. The number is yet to be finalised and will depend on the consultation with staff, but we have said that there will probably be more than 100 and could be as many as 185.'
Eurofound (2007), Serco, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 65311, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65311.