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.
Douwe Egberts, a Dutch coffee producer has announced the closure of its production facility in Grimbergen, Belgium. In total 274 are at risk of losing their job, both blue and white collar workers. The production capabilities of the facility will be transferred to other European countries including the Netherlands, Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic. Some of the administrative and retail services will however remain on location. The main reasoning behind the offshoring is to reduce overcapacity. In 2014 cost reducing measures were already introduced by halting production at weekends.
Eurofound (2016), Jacobs Douwe Egberts, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Belgium, factsheet number 88595, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/88595.