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.
Northern Foods, a food plant making Chinese ready meals in Swansea, is set to be closed down resulting in the loss of 234 jobs. The announcement came after the owners failed to renew their supply agreement with its major customer, Sainsbury. The agreement concerned 90% of Northern Foods production. The company entered into consultation with staff as there was a "very low probability" similar orders could now be found in time to save the factory. The jobs are mostly shift work in the food preparation and chilling area and the workforce includes a lot of agency staff. As of 25 April 2010 no date has been given for the closure.
Eurofound (2010), Northern Foods, Closure in United Kingdom, factsheet number 70447, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/70447.