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.
Hitachi Rail Europe has announced that it will cut 250 permanent jobs in its rail manufacturing and assembly plant in Newton Aycliffe in the North East of England. The 45-day compulsory consultation process with employees and trade unions has already started. In a statement, the company explained that the job cuts are part of a restructuring plan that aims business flexibilisation and insisted that the company has a reputation for investing in its workers.
The Unite Union finds the news disappointing and blames the government policies for the redundancies, arguing that procurement policies for transport infrastructure favour overseas businesses.
Hitachi Rail Europe is part of Hitachi Group, the Japan-based global technology firm, which has 4,000 employees in 33 countries. In UK, the company produces rolling stock and signalling services across 15 locations.
Eurofound (2020), Hitachi Rail Europe, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 99713, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/99713.