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 management of CaixaBank, the Spanish financial services company, has announced a collective dismissal plan. The entity plans to reduce the number of its offices, closing 821 urban offices until the end of 2021, leading to between 2,000 and 2,500 job losses. The company aims to advance in the digital transformation of its network, but maintain offices in rural areas. A spokesperson for the entity has made clear that the job cuts will be negotiated with the trade unions, which have warned that they will not accept direct dismissals.
Previous restructurings took place in 2018 (70 jobs created), 2016 (431 jobs lost) and 2015 (750 jobs lost).
Eurofound (2019), CaixaBank, Internal restructuring in Spain, factsheet number 96273, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/96273.