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 Norske Skog Golbey paper mill has decided to launch a voluntary departure plan with 50 early retirements to reduce its workforce. According to management, about 50 employees over 56 years old could leave the company out of a total of 375 employees, reducing their working time before their departure into retirement. The plan was opened in November and the affected employees will have until April 2016 to decide if they want to enter in the scheme or not. The departures will start from April 2016 and end in April 2018. The unions CFDT and SUD agreed the plan, even though SUD considered it a “disguised social plan”. The restructuring plan aims to also invest in a bio-refinery that could create 40 new positions. According to management the aim is to maintain the competitiveness of the site, which is the highest in Western Europe.
Eurofound (2015), Norske Skog Golbey, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 85476, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/85476.