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.
Medtronic, a company operating in the sector of medical device technologies, announced plans to cut 300 jobs at its Brescia site.
Medtronic employs 580 people in Brescia, Milano. In March 2012, 120 jobs were lost due to gradual reduction of production of medical coronal devices. In May 2013 it will relocate an assembly unit to Mexico which will result in additional loss of 180 jobs.
According to Medtronic, the Brescia site will now be a research and development centre for complex medical technologies in the sector of Peripheral Vascular Disease.
Medtronic is negotiating the restructuring process with the trade unions. The process is due to be completed by July 2013.
Eurofound (2011), Medtronic, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Italy, factsheet number 74174, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/74174.