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.
STMicroelectronics is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies and is market leader in fields such as camera modules for mobile phones and semiconductors for set-top boxes and power management devices. The group has around 50,000 employees, 16 advanced research and development units, 39 design and application centres, 17 main manufacturing sites and 78 sales offices in 36 countries. In 2005, the company carried out a broad reorganisation plan with the consequent loss of around 3,000 jobs worldwide. In July 2007, the Italian-French company announced a new reorganisation plan that envisages the closure of three plants. Two of these plants are in Phoenix and Carrollton in the United States, and one is in Casablanca in Morocco. The closure of these plants is expected to occur in the next two to three years, and around 4,000 jobs will be lost. The firm has taken this decision in order to reduce its operative costs, and will relocate production in countries with lower labour and transfer costs. The company will also provide economic incentives for voluntary redundancy and will offer different income support and retraining measures to support the redundant personnel.
Eurofound (2007), StMicroelectronics, Offshoring/Delocalisation in World, factsheet number 65623, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65623.