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.
On 19 April 2007 retail giant John Lewis announced plans to build a new store in Leicester, bringing with it up to 1,000 jobs. 'We anticipate that the majority of our new jobs will be given to people from Leicester and the surrounding areas,' said John Lewis' Andrew Clarke. 'With the more senior management positions, we will also look to people already working for John Lewis,' he added. Mr Clarke said the recruitment process would start after Christmas.
Job creation is part of the company's plans to create 35,000 new jobs and double its turnover within the next 10 years. The partnership board of the employee-owned business has signed off on proposals to create a 100,000 strong workforce by 2017. The group also plans to open at least 10 new department stores and to double sales to 12 billion GBP during the period. A significant increase in Waitrose supermarket stores - from the current 184 branches - is also planned. John Lewis development director, Mark Price, first revealed the expansion plan in the retailer's internal magazine. Healthy demand for electrical goods and beauty products helped increase sales 10% in the approach to Christmas.
Eurofound (2007), John Lewis, Business expansion in United Kingdom, factsheet number 64985, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/64985.