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.
Borg Warner Turbo Systems cut 172 jobs in December 2008 due to difficulties arising from the global economical crisis affecting automotive industries worldwide. The company, which had steadily increased its workforce until September 2008, launched an immediate layoff scheme affecting 90 workers in the first place. In the second wave, the firm dismissed 42 of its employees in two steps and did not renew the contract of 40 temporary agency workers from December 2008.
The plant producing turbochargers for passenger cars, is based in Oroszlány, Northern Hungary, was established in 2001 and had employed 745 workers before layoffs started.
The Hungarian facility is a subsidiary of Borg Warner Inc., with headquarters in Auborn Hill, USA, a major supplier of the automotive industry producing fuel efficient engines and drive-trains.
Eurofound (2008), Borg Warner, Internal restructuring in Hungary, factsheet number 67761, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/67761.