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 12 March 2014 the food wholesale company Kruidenier was declared bankrupt with the loss of 600 jobs. According to the sources, the bankruptcy was caused by a decline in turnover in the last few months. One source reports that several suppliers refused to continue with their deliveries and some requested the return of stock. The receiver has been pessimistic about a buyout.
On 18 March the takeover of one of Kruidenier’s ten distribution centres was announced. Verscentrum Northwill has bought the centre in Meppel, where 90 people are employed. The centre in Nijmegen has also been sold. It is unclear to what extent this will result in a reduction of job losses.
Eurofound (2014), Kruidenier, Bankruptcy in Netherlands, factsheet number 76944, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/76944.