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.
Harrods, the British luxury department store has announced plans to restructure the business, leading to 672 jobs being cut (14% of its workforce). According to media sources, jobs in cafes and beauty services located within the department store are likely to be some of the most affected.
The chief executive officer said the social distancing measures and the reduction in the number of tourists visiting the store had 'a huge impact' on the business.
Harrods is the largest and most famous department stores in Europe, currently owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar.
Eurofound (2020), Harrods, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 101419, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101419.