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.
Fashion retailer Burberry has announced plans to create a new business services centre in Leeds. The premises is set to open in October 2017 and will host the company's HR, finance and IT functions, and it is reported that 300 jobs in these roles will be created. As part of measures to reduce costs, Burberry has decided to move these parts of the business from London to Leeds. Holders of the posts in London will be offered the opportunity to move to Leeds, though it is expected that the positions in Leeds will be filled by a mix of staff relocations and new recruitment.
UPDATE 09/10/2017: Fashion Brand Burberry has opened its new centre in Leeds and has confirmed that the new site will house 400 employees, 100 more than had previously been reported. It is expected that numbers will reach 400 by the end of 2018. The staff relocations from London are still subject to relocation, though Burberry expects to move parts of its IT team in the summer of 2018.
Eurofound (2017), Burberry, Business expansion in United Kingdom, factsheet number 91055, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/91055.