Psychosocial risks and ethical implications of technology: considerations for decent work

Decent work, a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, is built on the ethical treatment of workers and ensures respect of their security, freedom, equity, and dignity. In the future, a wide range of technological forces may pose significant impediments to the availability and quality of decent work. This paper applies a prescriptive taxonomy to categorize evidence of the psychosocial impacts technology may bring to the future of work and elucidate the associated ethical concerns. Ethical objectives in support of a future defined by decent work are also offered. Central to this technoethical discourse are the principles of nonmaleficence, beneficence, autonomy, justice, and respect for persons. Expanded technoethical education, ethical technology assessments, ethical foresight analysis, and revised ethical standards are important ways to address technology-related ethical challenges on a larger scale. The findings in this paper may serve as a foundation for the systemic prevention and control of adverse effects and ethical concerns from the use of technology in the workplace of the future.