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.
Boots, the major British healthcare and beauty retailer, intends to expand its operations in Ireland during the course of the next three years. Its aim is to nearly double the number of stores it runs in Ireland, and it is also seeking to enhance its pharmacy operations via acquisition. Boots presently has 55 stores in the Republic. In the immediate term, the company is opening a major new store in Cork, resulting in 100 new jobs. In total, including the new Cork store, 150 new jobs will be created by the end of 2009. Boots issued the following statement:
'We see Ireland as being a growth opportunity for us, even though the current trading environment is tough. We're bringing on 150 jobs here this year and job security is one of the biggest things we can offer right now, as behind construction, the retail industry has been the hardest hit in terms of job losses'.
Eurofound (2009), Boots, Business expansion in Ireland, factsheet number 69926, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/69926.