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.
Vivergo Fuels, which specialises in biofuels, has announced plans to close its plant at Saltend near Hull with the loss of 150 jobs. Reportedly, the closure is expected to have knock-on effects on the local businesses which supply feed wheat to Vivergo and may, directly or indirectly, affect up to 3,000 jobs. The business which had reopened in April 2018, following a temporary shutdown in November 2017, has entered into statutory consultation over the proposals. According to a spokesperson for Vivergo, the lack of government support for biofuels has been at the heart of the decision to close down. Production is due to stop at the end of September 2018.
Eurofound (2018), Vivergo Fuels, Closure in United Kingdom, factsheet number 95390, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/95390.