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.
Sports Direct, the UK-based sports- and leisurewear retailer announced on 15 April that it is closing a warehouse in Wigan, Manchester on 13 June, with a loss of 300 jobs. 150 people, who are employed directly by Sports Direct are being made redundant - another 150 of the affected staff are employed by agencies. The regional secretary of the GMB union said: 'This closure is another body blow for the North-West – caused by a company with a track record of putting profits before people.' He added that GMB was determined to ensure that members receive the redundancy pay they were entitled to.
Eurofound (2019), Sports Direct, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 97603, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/97603.