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.
Poly Juguetes, a Spanish chain of toy stores plans to file for bankruptcy proceedings, which implies the lay-off of its entire workforce (186 employees) and the closure of its 26 physical shops located throughout Spain, in addition to its digital sales channel and company offices.
The company was acquired by the Dutch Teal group in 2018, but has since incurred in significant losses year after year, accumulating more than 15 million euros of losses with no optimistic forecasts for this year 2024. According to the company, Poly's viability in recent years has been based exclusively on the financial support of the Teal Group, but these contributions have not allowed the company to become profitable or to meet its obligations.
Eurofound (2024), Poly Juguetes, Bankruptcy in Spain, factsheet number 200955, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/200955.