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.
The merger of the multinational cement manufacturer companies Lafarge and Holcim will result in a labour force adjustment that will affect 135 workers (around 15% of the entire workforce of both companies). The firm will start to negotiate the measure with the trade unions in the coming days. There is still no date set for the affected workers. The company foresees that most of the dismissals will be concentrated in the services offices - located in Madrid - more than in the cement manufactures plants. Management has stated that the reason for the reduction is that reorganisation is required due to the merger in order to avoid duplication between the two companies and to guarantee the future viability of the project.
Update 13/11/2015
The Company will finally apply for a collective dismissal affecting 99 employees (11% of its total workforce). The biggest impact will be felt at Lafarge Hormigones y Aridos, where 49 jobs will be affected. In Holcim España 33 jobs will be affected while for Lafarge Cementos 17 will be affected. According to the company, the measure is needed for organisation, production and economic reasons
Eurofound (2015), LafargeHolcim, Merger/Acquisition in Spain, factsheet number 85233, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/85233.