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 automotive supplier Mahle Behr has announced 236 job cuts out of a total of 640 at its Rouffach site. The management has justified its decision by 'a lack of competitiveness' of the site specialised in the manufacture of air conditioning parts. This is the third plan in six years to restore the competitiveness of this site, which employed more than a thousand people in 2013. Former reorganisations announcements were recorded in 2016 (110 job cuts) , in 2013 (159 job cuts) and in 2007 (100 job cuts). The departure plans should take place between the end of the first quarter of 2020 and June 2021. The union fears that forced dismissals will be likely as this is the third departure plan and the possibilities of retirement or voluntary departure are reduced.
Eurofound (2019), Mahle Behr, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 98917, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/98917.