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 2 February, the management of Bosch Rexroth France, the French subsidiary of the German engineering and electronics company, announced a plan to cut 180 positions out of a total of 360 in its plant in Vénisseux (Rhône) in the framework of cost saving plan of €19 million by 2018. According to a draft restructuring plan that was submitted in February of 2016, the company also intends to delocalise a large part of the production to Turkey and China by 2018. However, unions and employees’ representatives began to mobilise on 25 April, and a collective agreement was concluded on 11 May between management and three unions (CGT, CFE-CGC, FO). According to the agreement, the company will maintain a minimum of 270 positions at the site until 2020 and will increase its investment in its R&D division from around 700,000 to €5.8 million by 2020. According to FO, the job cuts will be limited to between 60 and 70 positions, and that these will occur through age-measures within the framework of a social plan that is yet to be negotiated between management and unions. No forced dismissals are expected. However, according to the regional daily Le Progrès de Lyon, the number of job cuts will reach as many as 87. The plant is specialised in control devices for construction equipment.
Eurofound (2016), Bosch Rexroth France, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 87544, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/87544.