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.
Lavazza acquired Carte Noire in 2015. At the time, French employees were worried about their future at the company and the implications of the acquisition; however the new management decided to concentrate all Carte Noire production at the Lavérune factory in France. This means that three production lines which are currently located in the Czech Republic will be moved to Lavérune. Moreover, a new line of soft pods will be moved to the site, along with grinding and roasting equipment in an overall expansion of the factory’s capacity. In total it will have nine roasters and eight production lines. Lavazza expects a turnover of EUR 1.70bn (USD 1.94bn) in 2016 as opposed to EUR 1.4bn in 2015, thanks to a combination of internal growth and the contribution of new companies.
Eurofound (2016), Carte Noire, Reshoring in France, factsheet number 228, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/228.