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.
Finnish meat producer HKScan has initiated employer-employee negotiations due to restructuring for economic reasons. The negotiations concern some 1,500 workers in production and logistics, and they can lead to up to 211 job reductions in the company's units in Paimio, Vantaa, Forssa, Mikkeli and Outokumpu. The job reductions will not concern white-collar employees or employees at the company's Rauma site. The company claims that it aims at increasing competitiveness and efficiency.
HKScan had some 2,500 employees in 2016 in Finland.
Updated, 10/10/2018: HKScan, following negotiations, has confirmed that the final number of employees to be dismissed is 165. These reductions, in addition to temporary layoffs, are expected to save the company around seven million euro on a yearly basis.
Eurofound (2018), HKScan, Internal restructuring in Finland, factsheet number 94450, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/94450.