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.
Walsall Council has announced plans to cut 281 jobs and leave 139 current vacancies unfilled, meaning the loss of a total of 420 jobs. The job cuts are due to the local authority seeking to make substantial savings. In addition to the cuts, the council tax will rise by 4.99%. A spokesperson for the council commented that the reductions of the 281 jobs are expected to comprise both voluntary and compulsory redundancies. Libraries have been identified as one area where cuts can be made, with nine libraries across the authority due to close under the plans. This will leave six libraries, with further plans for a community library to operate in Streetly. It is yet to be announced when the closures will take effect.
Eurofound (2017), Walsall Council, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 90176, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/90176.