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.
Anheuser-Busch is to cut 3% of its combined workforce (5,500 positions) following its takeover of rival SABMiller. This is part of a drive to make savings of $1.4 billion per annum within four years. Principally, jobs will be lost in Europe, with China and the USA also affected. Headquarters in Leuven and New York appear to be safe, with losses likely in the UK sites in Woking and London. Confirmation will come from a shareholders' decision after a meeting on September 28th. Sales and front-office staff are likely to be unaffected, with corporate roles more vulnerable. There may be expansion into new, fast-growing markets, particularly in Africa, which would involve some compensatory job creation.
Eurofound (2016), Anheuser-Busch, Merger/Acquisition in World, factsheet number 88448, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/88448.