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.
The Saint-Etienne Commercial Court has announced the compulsory liquidation of ZF PWK Mécacentre, leading to the redundancy of its 178 employees. The plant specialises in the manufacture of parts for the automotive industry (steering and wheel ball joints), in particular front axles for German carmakers. This subsidiary of the German group ZF Friedrichshafen was placed in receivership in July. At the beginning of October, the liquidator announced the withdrawal of the offer from a potential buyer.
The trade unions occupied the plant, demanding for €40,000 per employee plus €2,000 per year of service. For a total package of just under €14 million, compared with the German management's offer of €5 million. After 22 days of strike the trade unions and the employer agreed on a €7 million budget of compensation.
Eurofound (2023), ZF PWK Mécacentre, Bankruptcy in France, factsheet number 200413, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/200413.