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.
Online retailer Amazon has announced plans to recruit a further 5,000 workers across its UK operations in 2017. The latest round of jobs will bring Amazon's workforce to 24,000. The new jobs will be spread across the UK including at the new headquarters in London's Shoreditch, the customer service centre in Edinburgh and the company's numerous warehouses across the country. Positions available include jobs in software development and in warehousing. The new jobs have, in part, been made possible by the rapid expansion activity through third-party retailers, who use Amazon's infrastructure for web selling and for deliveries.
The latest decision has been seen by some as underlining Amazon's commitment to the UK following the decision to leave the European Union. Despite Amazon's rapid rise the company has attracted criticism of both its tax arrangements and the working conditions of staff.
The announcement is part of plans to create up to 15,000 jobs in Europe during 2017.
Updated, 27/04/2017; Amazon has announced that it is to create 1,200 jobs when it opens its new warehouse in Warrington, which will be one of four 'fulfilment centres' which it will open in 2017. Roles in operational and management positions will be made available. By the end of 2017 Amazon will have 15 fulfilment centres operating across the UK.
Updated, 04/05/2017; Amazon has announced that it is to create 400 jobs when it opens a development centre in Cambridge in the autumn of 2017. The centre will concentrate on developing the company's Prime Air service which is used to get deliveries to customers quicker using new drone technology. The positions available in the new centre in Cambridge will be for specialist scientists and engineers to develop the new technologies.
Eurofound (2017), Amazon, Business expansion in United Kingdom, factsheet number 90649, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/90649.