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.
US-owned Molex, a manufacturer of fibreoptic connectors, has announced 100 redundancies at its plant in Shannon, County Clare. The company currently employs 450 at the Irish plant. Management has offered a redundancy package worth six weeks pay for each year of service with the company, inclusive of statutory entitlement.
The parent company has engaged in a restructuring exercise in the US and in its overseas subsidiaries. The company has referred to a drop in demand and reduced profits. It is understood the remaining workforce at the County Clare plant will be requested to take a pay cut.
Eurofound (2009), Molex, Internal restructuring in Ireland, factsheet number 68307, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/68307.