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 firm Barloworld Finanzauto, which distributes in Spain vehicles and equipment of the company Caterpillar, has announced its intention to implement an employment adjustment affecting 192 workers. The measure envisages the closure of 6 establishments in Spain. According to the trade union CCOO, the company justified the measure noting that previous employment adjustment could not improve the situation, achieving the desired profitability. The company aims to close 6 establishments and is also considering the possibility of merging some of them. Currently, the company has 17 establishments in Spain. Its goal is to close the establishment located in Córdoba, Logroño, Málaga, Mérida, Murcia and Valladolid. In addition, the company wants to increase working time by 100 more annual hours. The measure will be discussed with the trade unions in the following weeks.
Eurofound (2017), Barloworld Finanzauto, Internal restructuring in Spain, factsheet number 91374, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/91374.