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.
La Perla is a leading manufacturer of women's underwear and fashion with subsidiaries in Austria, France, Spain, Germany and the United States. In order to reorganise and relaunch the company after a period of decreasing turnover and losses, the management announced a restructuring of both manufacturing and commercial activities which includes an employment reduction of 410 workers by 2007, with a view to reduce costs. According to the plan, the company should be profitable again in 2008, after the completion of the restructuring process. Talks between the company management and the unions on the business plan were started.
Eurofound (2005), La Perla, Internal restructuring in Italy, factsheet number 62737, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/62737.