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.
Spanish firm, Sirta, which operates restaurants within Makro shopping centres, has announced its intention to close its restaurants in Spain and to dismiss 150 workers. The firm will close 17 out of its 18 establishments. It will keep open the restaurant located in Alcobendas. According to the trade union CCOO, the management of the firm rejects to negotiate with the workers’ committee and it justifies the measure due to drop in sales and accumulated losses.
Updated, 20/10/2014: As reported, the company has achieved an agreement with workers over a labour force adjustment plan that reduces the number of the dismissals from 150 to 143. The redundancies will be made between 25 October 2014 and 28 February 2015
Eurofound (2014), Sirta, Closure in Spain, factsheet number 77595, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/77595.