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.
Unum, a major US insurance company, has announced the creation of up to 200 jobs through the establishment of a software service centre in Carlow town. The new Irish arm of Unum, which specialises in providing employee benefits and group and individual disability income protection insurance, will provide technology services and quality assurance to its US parent.
The Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Ireland-supported investment will be unveiled by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin. It is understood the jobs will be created in two phases. An initial 100 software developers and graduates will be recruited by the end of 2009. A further 100 staff are likely to be hired at a later stage, depending on the initial project's success. Unum plans to work closely with Carlow's Institute of Technology, which has a school of science and computing, to attract suitable graduates.
As of February 2008, there is no information as to when employment at the site will commence and when the new jobs will be created by.
Eurofound (2008), Unum, Business expansion in Ireland, factsheet number 66291, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/66291.