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.
LIDL, a German discount supermarket chain, is to hire 300 additional workers in the next two years. This is due to the fact that the management decided to extend the opening hours of their supermarkets. Shops will be opened two hours more per day (from 8.30am to 8.00pm instead of 9.00am to 6.30pm).
The 300 new workers will account for one new worker per LIDL outlet in Belgium. Additionally, workers will be paid more given the new opening hours.
Eurofound (2012), Lidl, Business expansion in Belgium, factsheet number 73093, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/73093.