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 16 October 2015, H&M initiated a collective dismissal procedure for its distribution centre in Puurs. The company is intending to centralise distribution activities at its Ghlin facility opened in 2012. The establishment in Puurs employs 162 but only about 5 employees have a right to early retirement. Because the Puurs facility is part of the main H&M company employing 2,536 employees in total in Belgium, it cannot be recognized as a restructuring company and cannot therefore use the system of reduced early retirement age. Staff have recently voted (67%) to reject the social plan on offer and have gone on strike.
Eurofound (2016), H&M Distributiecentrum, Relocation in Belgium, factsheet number 86534, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/86534.