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.
The RSPCA plans to shut 5 of its regional headquarters and 10 call centres, making 350 people redundant. The 5 regional centres to be closed are Manchester, Leicester, Basingstoke, Maidstone and London. The call centre activities are to be outsourced to a private company. The charity has experienced severe financial losses over the past few years; stockmarket falls have wiped off investments, donations have dropped. The restructuring plan should reduce administration costs by £7.6 million over the next 3 years. Unions have long threatened to go on strike. After a 3 month negotiation, a agreement has been reached. Significantly enhanced redundancy payments for the staff have been awarded. The new private company handling the call centre will give priority to applicants coming from the closing existing call centres. The deal also means gains for the workforce on pensions.
Eurofound (2003), RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 60031, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/60031.