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 Evreux Commercial Court has ordered the liquidation of Holophane, a century-old company based in Les Andelys (Eure), with the redundancy of its 208 employees as of 2 January 2024. Holophane, which was placed in receivership in November 2022, produced pressed glass parts for automotive lighting (lenses and fog lamps). The critical situation was the result of a shift in the automotive lighting industry towards plastic, to make vehicles lighter. But it was also due to soaring energy prices. The company had 240 employees when it was placed in receivership. The staff representative, Franck GĂ©rard, has requested the business to be allowed to continue until 2 January 2024 in order to guarantee December's wages. The commercial court agreed, granting a one-month observation period.
Eurofound (2023), Holophane, Bankruptcy in France, factsheet number 200658, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/200658.