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.
Internet retailer Amazon has announced plans to create 1,000 new jobs at various locations across the UK. The jobs will be located across the eight distribution centres of Doncaster, Dunfermline, Gourock, Hemel Hempstead, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Rugeley and Swansea Bay. It is not yet known when these positions will be filled. However media sources report Amazon confirming that the jobs will be created 'in the coming months'.
The news follows changes introduced in working practices. Staff have the option of working compressed hours; i.e. a working week of four shifts of ten hours rather than working the same hours over five days. In addition to this, staff members who have worked at Amazon for more than a year are now offered share grants.
As reported, Amazon has increased its workforce by 2,000 over the past two years.
Eurofound (2014), Amazon, Business expansion in United Kingdom, factsheet number 77743, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/77743.