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.
Consumer electronics retailer Elkjøp is consolidating its Nordic customer support centre into one location in Copenhagen, Denmark. 122 employees at the existing Norwegian customer support centre in Lørenskog will be dismissed unless they agree to relocate to Denmark. The restructuring will also entail a staff reduction in Sweden. Employees were informed of the relocation on 23 January 2017. The new customer service centre in Copenhagen is set to gradually take over the customer calls currently handled by the Norwegian centre. The process is set to start on 1 March and to be completed by 1 July 2017, when the Norwegian customer centre closes, leaving all 122 employees (90 full-time equivalents) without a job in the country. Employees expressed surprise and shock about the sudden decision, and some criticised the short time span and lack of warning given to employees.
Elkjøp, known as Elgiganten outside Norway, is the largest consumer electronics retailer in the Nordic countries, with 400 stores in six countries and around 10,000 employees.
Eurofound (2017), Elkjøp, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Norway, factsheet number 90150, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/90150.