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.
Kraft Foods, the giant agro-alimentary group, employs 1,790 people in Belgium, 340 in Herentals, where it has announced the redundancy of 107 people: 88 workers and 19 employees. The range of products manufactured there will be reduced. The suppressed production will be either relocated in Poland or outsourced. After the announcement, staff has gone on a 48 hour strike. On 30 June 2004, 20 jobs were saved amongst the workers. In the remaining staff, 58 were more than 50 years old, and it is thought that they would apply for a pre-retirement scheme. Bonuses for voluntary severance of contract are also proposed.
Eurofound (2004), Kraft Foods, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Belgium, factsheet number 60455, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/60455.