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.
On 11 June, Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson that specializes in the manufacturing surgical care equipment, announced its intention to close a plant near Chartres employing 365 people by the end of 2012. The production of the site, which manufactures suture material, will be offshored to other plants, probably in South America. The first wave of dismissals will be implemented in early 2011; according to the unions, redeployment within the group will be difficult.
Ethicon employs 930 people in France. Last November, the parent company, Johnson & Johnson, announced a plan to reorganise its activities resulting in the loss of 7000 jobs worldwide.
Eurofound (2010), Ethicon, Offshoring/Delocalisation in France, factsheet number 70637, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/70637.