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 Dutch producer of loose tobacco BAT Niemeyer has announced a job loss of 60 out of 270 jobs at the Groningen plant, part of the multinational company British American Tobacco (BAT), despite wage decreases that had been agreed on with employees in 2015 to prevent closure of the plant. The job cuts are the result of increased efficiency due to technological and work organisation advancements, as well as an expectation of a decrease in produced units because of European regulation increasing the minimum weight of a unit of loose tobacco sold. It is as of yet unclear how the reductions will proceed, but BAT Niemeyer has stated forced redundancies cannot be excluded and that redundant employees will receive active support in finding new job. The trade unions have been informed and the works council has been asked for advice. BAT directly employs some 50,000 people worldwide and is active in 200 markets.
Eurofound (2016), BAT Niemeyer, Internal restructuring in Netherlands, factsheet number 88162, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/88162.