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.
Waitrose supermarket has announced plans to close five of its stores which will result in 440 job losses. The stores are located in Barry, Blaby, Ashbourne, Teignmouth and Torquay. It is being reported that four of the sites (with the exception of Ashbourne) are due to close in June 2019 when new owners will take over the premises. The plans are now subject to a formal consultation during which Waitrose has said it will explore possibilities for affected staff to remain with the company. A spokesperson for Waitrose expressed sadness at the closures, but stressed that the company was unable to continue operating sites which are not profitable.
Eurofound (2019), Waitrose, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 97424, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/97424.