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 Finish telecom equipment provider Nokia, which took over Alcatel-Lucent in 2016, has announced a restructuring in two of its subsidiaries in France (Alcatel Lucent International and Nokia Solutions and Networks) that will lead to cut 597 job cuts by 2019. 4,200 employees are currently working in these two companies. The aim is to save €1.2 billion by 2018.
The job cuts will affect the central functions and support of these subsidiaries based on the Paris-Saclay (Essonne) campus and in Lannion (Côtes-d'Armor), while the research and development functions will not be affected. The distribution of the job cuts between Paris-Saclay and Lannion 'is not yet decided at this stage', according to the management that will present its plan on 18 September to the work councils of the two subsidiaries. The management explains it will try to limit as much as possible the number of forced dismissals and 'will do everything possible to propose accompanying measures'.
The group has chosen to reposition France as a pole of excellence in research and development on three key technologies: 5G, cybersecurity and the Internet of Things. For the trade unions, 'this new social plan is unacceptable'. In the coming weeks, the Ministry of Finance will meet representatives of unions and management committee to follow-up commitments made by Nokia during the merger with Alcatel Lucent closed in early 2016. The group committed to maintain jobs for two years and to create 500 positions. Following the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent last year, Nokia had already cut 400 jobs in France.
Nokia's current workforce in France is 5,260.
Eurofound (2017), Nokia, Internal restructuring in France, factsheet number 91880, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/91880.