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 management of Cheminée Philippe, a manufacturer of fireplaces and chimneys, has announced that it plans to cut about 140 positions out of a total workforce of 282 employees across three plants: Béthune, Annezin and Liévin. A precursory meeting with unions and representatives is scheduled to be held on 19 May to initiate negotiations on a social plan. The management explained that the decision was taken because of sharp competition from foreign countries, the impact of a succession of mild winters, and consumers' preference for wood stoves over fireplaces. One of the representative unions, CGT, highlighted the fact that the workforce is mainly composed of individuals older than 50 years, and that in general the level of qualification among employees is relatively low. The company also recently suffered redundancies in 2012 and 2013. The exact timeframe of the restructuring process is not known but on average the first employment impact occurs three months after the announcement. More information regarding the number of direct dismissal will be known after negotiations with unions have concluded.
Eurofound (2016), Les Cheminées Philippe, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 87443, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/87443.