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.
AB Volvo, a company that manufactures buses and trucks, has announced that it will dismiss up to 4,100 white-collar workers globally. In Sweden, up to 1,250 employees and consultants risk losing their jobs. The company has not yet published information regarding which locations in Sweden are affected. It indicated that "the need for staff reductions would have been higher without various governmental support packages enabling short-term layoffs and other similar measures". According to AB Volvo, these dismissals are needed in order to adapt to the new market situation caused by the COVID-19 crisis and rapidly decreased demand. During spring 2020, the company temporarily laid-off most of its employees in Sweden. During the economic upturn, the company increased its sales from SEK 283 billion in 2014 (approximately €28,3 billion) to SEK 432 (approximately €43,2 billion) in 2019. According to the company, this increase in sales combined with the planned restructuring will allow them to prioritise product development and focus on electrification of vehicles and development of self-driving cars. They hope that these investments will allow them to strengthen their position in the market when the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Eurofound (2020), Volvo, Internal restructuring in Sweden, factsheet number 100918, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/100918.