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.
Total Petrochemicals is planning to cease elastomer production in Antwerp. Elastomer is used for bitumen modification (roofs and roads), technical compounds and the improvement of the technical qualities of some plastics. According to the management, economic conditions have been made particularly dificult by the relocation to Asia of both consumption and production processes. In any case, the Antwerp site will remain in operation since the elastomer production was only one out of the 35 processing units located in Antwerpen.
Management has promised to offer each of the 144 employees affected a package involving either compulsory redundancy or early retirement.
Eurofound (2006), Total petrochemicals, Internal restructuring in Belgium, factsheet number 63738, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/63738.