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 energy group Gazel Energie, owned by the EPH group, has presented a restructuring plan linked to the closure of its coal-fired power stations in France, which could lead to the loss of 230 jobs one year before the expected closure which was set to 2022. The company will soon start negotiations with the social partners to define the terms of an employment safaguard plan (PSE) with a period open to voluntary departures.
The project plans to put an end to the activity of the coal unit at the Gardanne-Meyreuil power station (Bouches-du-Rhône), while the biomass unit on the same site would continue its activity with a potential of 45 to 70 jobs in the long term. In addition, the coal unit located at Saint-Avold (Moselle) would be maintained until 2022. Then the site could keep 80 jobs linked to projects around the production of renewable heat and steam, the production of green hydrogen and e-methanol, complemented by the development of photovoltaic parks. Finally, the support services at the Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine) head office would also be adapted as a result of the coal closures.
France has announced the closure of its last four coal-fired power stations by 2022, a promise made by French President Emmanuel Macron and enshrined in the recent energy and climate law.
Eurofound (2020), Gazel Energie, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 101885, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101885.