4 ms·

The Amazon drones sprinting around doing package deliveries are certainly governed by a similar algorithmic approach. When I and I think a lot of the tech comm

The Amazon drones sprinting around doing package deliveries are certainly governed by a similar algorithmic approach. When I and I think a lot of the tech community see that, it looks ugly and dehumanizing, and the algo under the hood plays no small role in why. This news has similar markings. If you feel there is no issue with Amazon’s Algos and their leverage over a vulnerable workforce: that’s your ethics and I won’t fault you. But, your blind trust that an algorithmic solution to PeopleOps is problem-free is indicative of a common blindspot for techies. It causes a fair amount of social issues downstream when the algos meet the people being governed by them but the industry that creates the algos can’t see the nuance.

relax88 5y ago
I’m not suggesting that there are no issues with algorithmic HR operations. I’m suggesting that the abuses of such a system will only be solved in the courts, and that those courts decide the rules based on legislation that outlines worker protections. Corporations exist to make a profit and you can’t expect them to act against the profit motive out of the kindness of their own hearts, you must compel them.
- jonfw 5y ago
  Corporations are led by people and we expect people to be moral. Seeking profit doesn't excuse you from morality. Legislation is a good idea as well
  - relax88 5y ago
    Morality is a lot more subjective than labour law. Do you want to believe on faith that business owners will act in a way that matches your morals? I certainly don’t.
jonfw 5y ago
This is ultimately a human decision. The algorithm gives a score but a human decides what a good score is. Doing this at scale is no different than hiring a hundred middle managers to eye ball it. At the end of the day- if your company wants to fire the least productive 10% of your workforce on a regular basis to motivate employees, you'll be able to do so. This is a business practice issue and not a technology one

relax88 5y ago

I’m not suggesting that there are no issues with algorithmic HR operations. I’m suggesting that the abuses of such a system will only be solved in the courts, and that those courts decide the rules based on legislation that outlines worker protections. Corporations exist to make a profit and you can’t expect them to act against the profit motive out of the kindness of their own hearts, you must compel them.

jonfw 5y ago
Corporations are led by people and we expect people to be moral. Seeking profit doesn't excuse you from morality. Legislation is a good idea as well
- relax88 5y ago
  Morality is a lot more subjective than labour law. Do you want to believe on faith that business owners will act in a way that matches your morals? I certainly don’t.

jonfw 5y ago

This is ultimately a human decision. The algorithm gives a score but a human decides what a good score is. Doing this at scale is no different than hiring a hundred middle managers to eye ball it. At the end of the day- if your company wants to fire the least productive 10% of your workforce on a regular basis to motivate employees, you'll be able to do so. This is a business practice issue and not a technology one