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.
One of the leading global producers of equipment and systems for energy measurement and management segmentation has showed weaker business records in 2005, primarily due to a shrinking demand of classical electricity meters in its traditional markets and the increase of raw materials' prices. Five hundred, mainly short-term contractors, have lost their jobs since January 2005, and using softer methods for decreasing number of employees (early retirement, compensations for dismissals) there have been some direct dismissals as well. The number of employees by the end of 2005, thus, decreased by about 50 (from about 1800 to 1754). Restructuring processes included the production increase of electronic meters by two thirds (at the expense of electromechanical). Iskraemeco is one of few Slovene companies where its employees control the majority of stocks.
In February 2006 Iskraemeco’s management filed a forced settlement proposal after it failed to convince creditors with its restructuring plan. On 31 August 2006 Iskraemeco’s compulsory settlement was accepted by its creditors. The Capital Fund (KAD, state controlled pension fund) and the Restitution Fund (SOD, state controlled restitution fund) are to invest additional capital in Iskraemeco to enable its restructuring and reorganisation. Accordingly, the new management has been appointed and the number of planned job losses was decreased to 150 (according to a previous analysis of Finance newspaper, at least 500 workers would be dismissed if the worst scenario occurred). The company has already reached an agreement with 50 workers to leave the company. Final decision on the company's future strategy will be prepared by the end of January 2007.
Eurofound (2006), Iskraemeco, Internal restructuring in Slovenia, factsheet number 62140, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/62140.