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.
E.ON Sverige, provider of energy solutions, has announced to let go of 250 employees mainly due to the centralization of administrative functions. 150-180 of the 250 jobs will be lost at the administrative offices in Malmö. Presently, E.ON has 1,500 employees in the city.
E.ON Sverige is a part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest power and gas companies with 79,000 employees worldwide. The reductions are part of a global savings program, as an effect of which 11,000 jobs will be lost. The administrative functions will be centralised at two sites, a human resources centre in Berlin, Germany, and one billing department in Cluj, Romania.
The company management has agreed to not implement any reductions until May 31, 2013 and expects the program to be completely implemented by 2015.
Eurofound (2012), E.ON Sverige, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Sweden, factsheet number 74545, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/74545.