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.
Tulip Foods, a firm that produces meat products, has announced that it is cut 98 jobs at its site in Redruth in Cornwall. 717 are employed at the Redruth site, and meat is processed at the site. Management at the firm attribute the decision to overcapacity in the industry and have stated that they need to ensure that the firm continues to be a low cost producer. A spokesman for the firm stated:
'It's a very sad day and is in no way a reflection on the skill and dedication of our workforce.'
A consultation period with workers at the site is set to follow the announcement of the job losses. As of April 2008, there is no information on when the job losses will be implemented by.
Eurofound (2008), Tulip Foods, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 66583, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/66583.