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.
Alcatel Lucent, a global telecommunications company specialized in fixed and mobile broadband networks, is to cut 490 jobs at its sites in Italy. The job cuts are reported to mainly affect the Italian headquarters of Alcatel Lucent, located at Vimercate in the province of Milan.
Moreover, it is reported that the job cuts will mainly affect specialized technicians (360 out of 490 job cuts). According to the company, the labour force's rationalization is due to a reorganization of business units and a focus on new investments in the next generation of networks.
The trade unions criticized the company's decision and show concern about the future of Alcatel Lucent's sites in Italy. For this reason, they have requested the involvement of national authorities in order to find solutions which foster new investments in Italy by Alcatel Lucent.
UPDATE 23-05-2012: After negotiations between the company, the trade unions and the Ministry of Economic Development Alcatel Lucent has announced to cut 245 jobs instead of the previously announced 490. Moreover, the company has announced new investments in its Italian plants.
Alcatel Lucent currently employs around 2,100 people in Italy.
Eurofound (2012), Alcatel Lucent, Internal restructuring in Italy, factsheet number 73149, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/73149.