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.
OneSubsea, which delivers subsea processing systems to the petroleum industry, is set to cut up to 200 employees in Norway, mainly in Bergen. OneSubsea has headquarters in Houston, Texas, and about 900 employees in Norway. The declining level of activity in the petroleum sector following the fall in crude prices and reduced investement in petroleum extraction on the Norwegian continental shelf has affected the petroleum services market heavily. The restructuring is a response to this market situation, with a lack of new projects. Most of the affected employees will be located in the Bergen area. The exact number of employees to be dismissed is yet to be determined, but will be 'up to 200' according to the company's management. It is not yet determined whether all employees will be directly dismissed or if some will be offered severance packages. Temporary dismissals may also be used. Additional cuts are not ruled out, but dependent on the market situation next year.
Eurofound (2015), OneSubsea Processing, Internal restructuring in Norway, factsheet number 85170, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/85170.