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.
General Motors, the American automobile company plans to reduce the workforce in its Strasbourg plant by 168, from October, as part of a wider European restructuring. The company aims to reduce its functioning costs and plans therefore to cut up some 4500 jobs across Europe. In Strasbourg, wheregear-boxes are manufactured, the management explained during an extraordinary session of the works council that it had to cut down on workforce because of a decreasing global market share and a loss-making outcome. The Human Resources manager affirmed that "everything will be done in order to limit the number of direct dismissals". According to the Union (CFDT), about 34 job losses would be volontary while an indemnity would be given to the others. indemnity would be given to the others.
Eurofound (2008), General Motors, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 66490, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/66490.