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.
In a crisis meeting at the Ministry of Economic Development on November 29, 2018, the Italian cement manufacturer Italcementi, part of the group Heidelberg Cement, confirmed its intention to dismiss 347 workers employed in different plants, particularly in Bergamo and Taranto.
The workers are currently benefiting of a social shock absorber scheme which will come to an end on December 31, 2018.
A new meeting will take place between the company, the trade unions and the government on December 17, 2018. Trade unions declared that, if no alternative solutions will be proposed by Italcementi, the whole workforce of the company will go on strike.
Eurofound (2018), Italcementi, Internal restructuring in Italy, factsheet number 96000, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/96000.