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.
DSM, a manufacturer of chemical products for health and nutrition, aims to reduce its headcount by 200 jobs globally. Most of the jobs will be lost in Waalwijk (the Netherlands), where the company intends to reduce their staff by 90 people (coming from 450 employees). Another 40 jobs will be lost in other Dutch plants. An additional 70 jobs will be lost in other countries.
The Waalwijk plant specializes in resins and functional materials, products that are facing reduced demand from the construction industry.
DSM stresses that a large portion of the job losses can be achieved through "soft job reduction", for example non-renewal of temporary fix-term contracts. The company estimates that the restructuring will involve only 50 direct dismissals.
Eurofound (2011), DSM, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 72635, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/72635.