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.
Daikin, a Japanese multinational that is specialised in cooling and heating equipment, has announced significant expansion plans for its facility in Ghent. In 2021, the company plans to employ 111 new employees at the its EMEA headquarters and at its sales division in Belgium. The new roles will cover a variety of functions, including research, business development, supply chain, human resources and IT. In addition, the company plans to increase its number of researchers from 220 to 350 by 2025. Construction of the new facilities will begin in 2021 and is planned for completion during 2023.
The company has achieved a 2.2% sales growth, equal to a total sale of €3.45 billion, in fiscal year 2020 across EMEA areas. The growth is largely due to the increased demand for environmentally friendly heating and air conditioning systems, especially in the private market in northern and western Europe. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably hurt sales in commercial sectors, it has increased people's awareness of indoor air quality which has resulted in a large increase in sales of air purifiers.
For previous restructuring events of Daikin, see Daikin2010-CZ, Daikin200507-CZ, and Daikin200501-CZ.
Eurofound (2021), Daikin, Business expansion in Belgium, factsheet number 104825, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/104825.