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.
U Logistique, a subsidiary of the supermarket network Système U, has announced the take over a logistic platform belonging to the group XPO in Fontenay-Le-Comte (Vendée) with the aim to increase its activities from 25 million parcels per year to 28-30 million in 2018. It will invest €2 million to automate the site and expect to take over the 120 employees and to recruit 100 new employees by 2018 with the aim to reach a workforce of 220 employees. Recruitment will start by mid-November 2017. The investment in automation aims to improve the working conditions of the employees. The aim is to reduce the heavy handling that occupies 70% of employees today to 50% in one or two years. Salary improvements are also expected as the workforce went on strike last Spring to ask for salary increases and improvement of working conditions.
Eurofound (2017), U Logistique, Business expansion in France, factsheet number 92365, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/92365.