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.
Mercatone Uno, an Italian furniture and small appliances retailer, has announced that it will cut 316 jobs. According to the sources, the company is planning to close 13 out of its 90 Italian stores and this will lead to the loss of 236 jobs. The sources also report that 80 of the 250 workers currently employed in the company’s headquarters will be made redundant. Currently, there is a special wages guarantee (CIG in deroga) in place for these employees but it is due to expire soon. The dismissals will be made in 2014 and 2015.
According to the sources, the company would reduce these redundancies if their financial situation improved. Currently, there are negotiations taking place between the company and trade unions. In order to avoid redundancies, the trade unions have asked the company to consider internal mobility, part-time contracts and vocational training programmes. The source reports that a meeting is also planned with representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
Eurofound (2014), Mercatone Uno, Internal restructuring in Italy, factsheet number 77166, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/77166.