Almost every major business enterprise in the world employs some form of digital technology in the workplace and more than half of all U.S. businesses deploy artificial intelligence in at least one business unit. Workers and investors are deeply concerned about the impacts of these technologies on worker dignity and job quality. Workers are subjected to surveillance, work intensification, deskilling, discrimination, diminished autonomy, and a fissured workplace. As technology rapidly evolves, workers, unions, investors, and companies must work in tandem to mitigate the risks of digital technologies and maximize the benefits to workers before they are deployed, and on an ongoing basis
Our Theory of Change
The human rights risks associated with the rapid uptake of digital technologies in the workplace warrant increased investor attention to prevent and mitigate risks to workers. ICCR members are actively engaging portfolio companies to support human rights due diligence processes that include worker voice, especially by respecting the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
The Business Case for Action
Companies have a responsibility to protect their workers from harms stemming from the development and deployment of digital technologies in the workplace. Companies that fail to adopt and implement robust governance policies place their workforce at risk and face operational and reputational risks. Addressing workers’ concerns, including guarding against discrimination and invasion of privacy, can enhance worker satisfaction and retention, boost productivity, provide a competitive advantage, and avoid reputational damage.
Recent ICCR Actions on the Impacts of Digital Technology on Workers’ Rights
On October 1st, ICCR released an investor brief on the increasingly pervasive role that digital technologies play in the workplace.
Our Impact
ICCR’s worker-centered approach is having an impact.
Number of tech and workers’ rights organizations engaged to inform ICCR and Open MIC report
Number of companies researched for potential investor engagement on content moderation workers’ rights
Our new website unpacks our investor brief and features additional resources in an interactive format
ICCR members are engaging portfolio companies on:
- The impact of AI on job displacement and deskilling;
- Algorithmic management systems that are being used to control and surveil workers and collect their data; predict worker behavior, discriminate against workers, and use their likeness without permission;
- Digital labor platforms and the need for standard labor protections and decent work;
- The exploitation of data workers including precarious working conditions of online content moderators;
- Algorithmic hiring tools that can reproduce, and sometimes amplify, biases and human errors they are supposed to eliminate;
- And how the direct care workforce is being impacted by the deployment of digital technology.
If you are interested in engaging in this work please reach out to awj@iccr.org. For more information see: www.techimpactonworkers.iccr.org