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 the French electrical equipment specialist, Schneider Electric, has presented a restructuring plan that provides for the closure of two plants, one at Lattes (Hérault, 80 employees) and the other at Saumur (Maine-et-Loire, 74 employees). In total, 154 job cuts are foreseen.
Schneider Electric's plan concerns its medium voltage branch. The Saumur site is specialised in the production of secondary cells, while the Lattes plant manufactures circuit breakers and light bulbs. The restructuring plan provides for their shutdown in the second half of 2021. However, the effects on employment will begin as soon as the employment safeguard plan is concluded.
'The reorganisation of medium-voltage production in France is the consequence of a sharp drop in activity and has been going on for several years,' a Schneider Electric spokesman said. According to the management, each employee will be offered a reclassification post.
Unions denounce relocations. While some positions will be transferred to new locations in France, according to the CFDT, ''a majority of positions will be relocated to Indonesia, Turkey, Hungary and India'.
The group has downsized its workforce in France in the last decade, mainly since the take over of Areva T&D in 2010. Several reorgaisations were recorded: 170 job cuts in 2016 ; 200 job cuts in 2014 ; 600 job cuts in 2013 ; 688 job cuts in 2006 ; 1,043 job cuts in 2005 ; 318 job cuts in 2004 and 1,000 job cuts in 2003.
Eurofound (2020), Schneider Electric, Closure in France, factsheet number 101889, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101889.