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 British DIY store group Kingfisher has announced the closure of 11 stores in France and 19 stores in Germany by November 2020, considering their profitability insufficient. Nine Castorama stores and two Brico Dépôt stores are covered by this plan in France. In Germany, the group will close 19 Screwfix stores with the loss of 250 jobs. 'These stores have experienced a steady decline in customer traffic, despite revitalisation initiatives, and their projections remain negative,' Kingfisher said in a release. In France, the 11 closures concern 789 employees, who will be offered a similar position in other locations. However, employees who refuse transfers may be dismissed.
Eurofound (2019), Kingfisher, Internal restructuring in European Union, factsheet number 97420, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/97420.