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 1 January 2011, a coal mining company Katowicki Holding Węglowy launched a restructuring programme which will result in 700 job cuts by the end of 2011. Overall, the restructuring programme involves 1,400 job losses and 700 job creations. Around 1,000 employees will leave the company on early retirement scheme while 400 decided to leave voluntarily. Meanwhile in the course of 2011 the company plans to replace partly the ageing staff with 700 new employees. About 220 of them will be coal mining school graduates who have a guarantee of employment. Such guarantees are usually the result of contracts signed between companies and schools. Currently Katowicki Holding Węglowy has a strong workforce of 19,300.
Eurofound (2011), Katowicki Holding Węglowy, Internal restructuring in Poland, factsheet number 71402, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/71402.