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.
Frigo, a Barcelona-based ice cream manufacturer owned by Unilever, has announced that it is to close and dismiss its 268 workers (aged between 45 and 55 years, 80% are women). Although the formal procedure for collective dismissal has been initiated and the closure notified to the government of Catalonia, the company said that it is "considering all possible options to minimize the impact of the closure and is in the process of preparing a social plan for the redundant workers".
Eurofound (2008), Frigo, Closure in Spain, factsheet number 67288, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/67288.