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.
Proximus, the largest Belgian telecommunications company, has announced significant restructuring measures within the company in order to transform the company from a telecoms company into a provider of digital services. Around 1900 employees face dismissal in the coming 3 years while at the same time 1250 will be hired in order to make the 'transformation' of the company complete. The company management has informed both the trade unions within the company as well as government ministers. The unions plan actions as they believe the company is not in difficulties and such drastic reforms are unecessary. Primeminister Michel stated that he wants to keep the amount of direct dismissals as low as possible and urged company management to 'redo their homework'.
Eurofound (2019), Proximus, Internal restructuring in Belgium, factsheet number 96335, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/96335.