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.
As of 1 November 2008, Debreceni Hús Zrt., producer of meat products, laid off 134 of its 491 employees from its Debrecen plant after concluding negotiations with the workers' representatives. The company was recently sold to Penta group of Slovakian and Czech investors. The new management explained that the dismissals are attributed to the financial difficulties experienced by the company. Seventy-two of the affected workers are blue-collar employees and 52 worked in administrative jobs. The company sought to help the dismissed employees in finding new employment by relieving them from having to work during the notice period. Alternatives to dismissals included early retirement.
Eurofound (2008), Debreceni Hús Zrt., Internal restructuring in Hungary, factsheet number 67179, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/67179.