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.
Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester, has announced that it is to cut 350 full-time positions from its workforce. The cuts involve closure of a surgical ward as well as eight trauma and orthopaedic beds. The cuts are being made in response to budget deficits with the hospital reportedly losing £75 (around €88) per minute. Other measures to balance the budget include the sale of part of the site and the introduction of car parking charges. The hospital said that it hoped that some of the cuts could be achieved through voluntary redundancy and by not replacing existing staff. The timeframe for the job losses has not been reported.
Eurofound (2016), Stepping Hill Hospital, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 88332, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/88332.