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.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish manufacturers of insulin, are to cut 1,000 jobs in a cost cutting measure as competition for their product increases. Half the cuts will be in Denmark, and will fallĀ on the research and development, sales, and administrative areas of operation. The cuts will be overseen by a new CEO, with the long serving chief executive standing down imminently. There has been increased competition and a slow growing market, particularly in the USA, which has catalysed this downsizing. The American market accounts for about half of Novo Nordisk's revenue, causing Novo Nordisk to cut its profit forecast by 8% in August. 2016's financial outlook will not change as a result of this downsizing, although long term savings are expected to be between $105-150 million (EUR 93-98 million).
Eurofound (2016), Novo Nordisk, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 88787, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/88787.