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.
SOE Busprodution Finland, an affiliate company of the Swedish vehicle manufacturer Scania, will dismiss at least 260 employees in Lahti, Southern Finland following the closure of the plant. The company has manufactures bodies for buses produced by Scania.
The COVID-19 crisis had a significant financial impact on Scania – in June 2020 the company announced that it will cut 5,000 jobs globally.
Pekka Timonen, the mayor of Lahti, declared that the closure of the production site will have significant negative effects on the city where 20% of people are already unemployed. The Minister of Employment, Tuula Haatainen, argues that the state will provide support the city and the local public employment service will assist the affected employees to find new jobs.
Eurofound (2020), SOE Busproduction Finland , Closure in Finland, factsheet number 101829, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101829.