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.
Swedish construction company Peab has given notice of about 180 lay-offs in Stockholm. This concerns both white-collar and blue-collar workers (50/50). Peab's press manager says that the lay-offs aim at adjusting operations to the market as well as at reducing costs. She adds that the production in Stockholm has been too unilateral compared to the rest of the country, meaning focus mainly lays on a certain type of construction job (type non specified in the media articles). This will thus require an organisational change. Not all the lay-offs should be treated as direct dismissals and Peab is looking at the opportunity to use other job reduction measures and potential relocations. A clear picture on this will only be available after negotiations with the trade unions have been conducted.
There is no information on when the measure will take place.
Peab is one of the Nordic region's leading construction companies with a total of 15,000 employees, and a turnover of SEK 50 billion (€4.84 billion). The Group has strategically located offices in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The head office is located in Förslöv on the Bjäre Peninsula in Skåne, south Sweden.
Eurofound (2018), Peab, Internal restructuring in Sweden, factsheet number 94373, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/94373.