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.
Mattel, a leading global children's entertainment company that specialises in design and production of toys and consumer products (Barbie, American Girl and Hot Wheels brands), has announced over 2,200 job cuts worldwide, representing 22% of global non-manufacturing workforce, as well as planned sale of manufacturing sites in Mexico. The job cuts will mainly affect support functions and back-office, according Mattel. In its press release, Mattel blamed 'higher materials costs, higher obsolescence, and unfavourable product mix' for a decrease in its gross margin to 30.1 per cent, down from 41 per cent in the same quarter in 2017. 'We are in a turnround and as expected, had a challenging second quarter driven primarily by the Toys 'R Us liquidation,' said the new chief executive. Due to the Toys 'R' Us liquidation, Mattel has seen its sales dropping by about 11% between April and June 2018.
Mattel previously restructured with 1,000 jobs cuts in 2009.
Eurofound (2018), Mattel, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 94716, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/94716.