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.
Polish electricity producer and supplier PGE announced that it plans to cut its employment by 20% (about 132 jobs) throughout a voluntary departure programme. The programme will be carried out between 2 November and 15 December 2020. The conditions of the programme were negotiated with the local trade unions, and workers will receive a severance pay according to their seniority. The company will implement the second stage of the programme in March-April 2021 or conduct a collective dismissal programme, if it does not reach a target in 2020.
The programme aims to improve financial and organisational efficiency as the company is facing challenges related to the energy transformation towards low- and zero-emissions, requiring huge financial outlays.
PGE is a leading company in the PGE Capital Group, a state-owned power company and the largest energy sector company in Poland. Currently, the group employs about 42,000 people across the country, including 660 positions within PGE. Similar programmes were implemented within the other group’s companies.
Eurofound (2020), PGE, Internal restructuring in Poland, factsheet number 102053, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/102053.