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.
The Danish toy producer LEGO has announced that the company will cut between 500 and 600 jobs in Denmark before the end of 2017. According to the management, there is a need to 'push the reset button' and simplify the business model in order to fulfil the long term ambitions of LEGO. This happens six months after the LEGO Group reached the highest turnover in its 85-years long history. The first six months of 2017 showed a 5% decrease in sales and the turnover dropped by 6%.
The LEGO Group, with its headquarters in Billund, Denmark, estimates that there will be a need to reduce the global workforce by 8%. This will affect approximately 1,400 jobs, of which up to 600 in Denmark.
Eurofound (2017), LEGO, Internal restructuring in Denmark, factsheet number 91857, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/91857.