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 stainless steel manufacturing company Acerinox has initiated negotiations with trade unions for an Employment Redundancy File (ERE) affecting approximately 240 employees at its Los Barrios plant (Cádiz) over the next three years. The company emphasises that there will be no "traumatic dismissals", focusing instead on facilitating early retirements to rejuvenate the workforce, as agreed in last year’s collective bargaining agreement.
Unions have expressed satisfaction that temporary contracts will be replaced with new hires, offering opportunities to younger workers. They hope for a swift resolution to ensure that senior employees, many nearing 60, can retire promptly.
In 2019, the company already experienced an internal restructuring plan affecting 215 employees Acerinox 2019-ES
Eurofound (2025), Acerinox, Internal restructuring in Spain, factsheet number 202443, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/202443.