‘Robots must pay TAX’ Workers demand automatons ‘pay their way’
‘Robots must pay TAX’ Workers demand automatons ‘pay
their way’
BRITISH workers are demanding robots that take their jobs
pay income tax on earnings.
By Rachel O'Donoghue / Published 16th December 2017
A recent survey reveals a third of all workers believe
automatons will be doing their job within the next 15 years.
The poll of 1,000 people also showed 57% of workers think
these robots should be taxed in some form.
Ed Molyneux, the CEO of cloud accounting firm FreeAgent,
which carried out the survey, said the research shows the majority of people think
the future of the workplace involves robots.
But he said statistics showing 69% of people in the UK
would be “happy” to work for a “robot boss” indicate employees are warming to
the idea of automatons in the office.
“There is also a clear desire among British workers to
ensure that things are fair”
Ed Molyneux, CEO FreeAgent
He told Daily Star Online: “Our research shows that while
nearly half of them already think their job could be at risk to automation in
the future, they also appear to be fairly welcoming of this change.
“A third even say they’d be happy to work for a robot
boss, which suggests that they are becoming increasingly comfortable with the
role that technology could play in the workplace.”
But he said most people think that human or not, workers
and employers still should pay their fair share of tax on earnings.
He explained: “There is also a clear desire among British
workers to ensure that things are fair, even in the event of a rise of the robots
in the economy.
“Hypothetically, if‘ ‘robot bosses’ did start becoming
commonplace, we know that most people would like to see these machines – or at
least the business owners who operate them – pay the appropriate amount of tax.
“It’ll certainly be interesting to see whether or not
we’ll ever see the government taxing a company that owns a robot to the same
extent as they would be with a human employee in the years ahead.”
Mr Molyneux also predicts white collar jobs being lost to
technology, saying “higher skilled positions” are in jeopardy.
But he said it is likely that many industries will be
adapt to the rapid changes.
He added: “Some experts predict that professional
services industries may be particularly vulnerable to automation, but it’s
possible there could actually be an even wider range of middle-income jobs
potentially affected over the next decade.
“That may mean anything from clerks and chefs through to
office workers, junior lawyers and security staff having to face the prospect
of having some, or possibly all, of their work performed by new technology.
“This might sound alarming, but I don’t think this
necessarily means doom and gloom for the economy.
“Instead, it’s likely that in addition to a redefinition
of some office roles there could be a rise in self-employment where people
start providing bespoke professional services that add deeper value to
clients.”
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