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.
Calvin Klein, a New York-headquartered fashion house, is to close its site in Osmannoro, in the province of Florence. All 149 workers, who are currently working in jeans' design activities, will lose their jobs. The closure of the plant is included in a worldwide reorganization plan announced by Calvin Klein at the beginning of March 2012. It is reported that some of the design activities could be offshored to the UK, while the production of jeans is already concentrated in China.
After some negotiations, the company and the trade unions reached an agreement on 13 March that provides for various measures aimed to manage the closure of the plant. The agreement envisages the recourse to Wage Guarantee Fund schemes and "mobility" allowances for the workers. Moreover, the company will provide economic incentives for voluntary dismissals. The process of closure will be finished by the end of October 2013.
The agreement was approved by all workers of the Osmannoro site by means of a referendum.
Eurofound (2012), Calvin Klein, Closure in Italy, factsheet number 73377, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/73377.