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.
Morganite Crucible, a firm that manufactures crucibles, is to close its site in Norton in Worcestershire with the loss of 120 jobs. The jobs are to be ‘offshored’ to Germany and India, and the site is to close at some time in 2008. A training taskforce has been set up by local authorities to help affected employees, and a team from Jobcentre Plus, an organization that helps jobseekers, is to go to the site to advise employees. Worcester Labour MP Michael Foster stated: 'It is important that the workers get the chance to see what is available for them, either in new jobs or with new training opportunities. Obviously it is a real blow to see Morganite closing down its manufacturing operations. They have been part of the local scene since 1939.'
Eurofound (2007), Morganite Crucible, Offshoring/Delocalisation in United Kingdom, factsheet number 65830, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65830.