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.
Bed retailer Mattressman has announced plans to close 14 of its 25 stores, which will result in the loss of 136 jobs. As of 2 July 2018, the company, based in Norfolk, will close stores in Birmingham, Chingford, Corby, Coventry, Ipswich, Isle of Wight, Leicester, Lincoln, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Rotherham, Thanet and York. Under the terms of the company voluntary arrangement (CVA), the remaining stores will stay open and a spokesperson for the company said that it was hoped this restructuring would bring about a change in fortune. The company will concentrate on online sales as well as its smaller Norfolk stores, which have traditionally performed well.
Eurofound (2018), Mattressman, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 94534, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/94534.