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.
Half of the employees of Sere Codlea in Codlea (Braşov county, Centru region) received their redundancy notice in October 2005. Lay-offs will begin on 1 November 2005. The company, one of the largest of its kind in the country, produces fruits and vegetables in its own greenhouses.
Employees are worried they will receive no redundancy pay. The fact that they have not received full wages over the past few months has increased their anxiety. The company management has decided to compensate a part of their wages with payment in kind (fruit and vegetables from company greenhouses).
The owner of the company, Mariana Schultz, declares that employees will not remain without financial support, as they will be receiving unemployment benefits. Only 300 employees will continue to work on the Sere Codlea platform.
Eurofound (2005), Sere Codlea, Internal restructuring in Romania, factsheet number 62683, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/62683.