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.
Radenska is the largest Slovenian producer of mineral water. The company began to face difficulties some years ago because of a major reorientation of customers from sparkling to still mineral water, and because of increased competition of foreign producers in the Slovenian market, which led to price decreases. To cope with the problems, Radenska has increased production of still water, including those with different flavours, started producing water for the two main Slovenian retail trade chains (Mercator and Interspar) under their trade marks and reduced the number of employees. From 381 employees at end 2004, Radenska decreased the number of employees by 60 in 2005 and by another 30 in 2006. In 2007, they will further decrease the number of employees by 20, i.e. to 271. After two years of stagnation, Radenska has increased the scale of its operations in 2006, and so it plans for 2007.
Eurofound (2005), Radenska, Internal restructuring in Slovenia, factsheet number 64673, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/64673.