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.
German automotive components manufacturer Schaeffler has announced plans to close two of its UK sites in response to concerns over the UK's exit from the EU. The sites at Llanelli and Plymouth employ 220 and 350 people respectively; more than half of the firm's UK workforce of 1,000. It is understood that the work will be carried out in Germany, the USA, South Korea and China.
As well as the two closures, the logistics centres at Hereford and Sutton Coldfield will be combined at Hereford. The plant at Sheffield will not be affected by any of the changes. Trade unions and Members of Parliament have expressed concerns at the firm's decision and the wider effects of the closures.
UPDATE 07/05/2019: It has been reported that the Schaeffler plant in Plymouth has been sold to new owners and operations will continue largely unaffected. The move saves 350 jobs in the city. There is no further information about the site in Llanelli, nor on the logistics centre restructuring.
Eurofound (2018), Schaeffler, Offshoring/Delocalisation in United Kingdom, factsheet number 95996, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/95996.