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 largest Norwegian dairy product cooperative Tine is reducing 400 full-time equivalents (FTEs) all over the country by 2021. The job cuts will affect all 34 dairies as well as the support and logistic services and the head office in Oslo. The restructuring is motivated by nearly 10% decrease in milk demand, mainly due to termination of the export of the Norwegian cheese Jarlsberg and increased market competition from imports. According to the CEO the company will initiate several measures, including strategies on innovation and digitalization, in order to optimize its production and competitiveness. With these measures the company expects to save NOK 1 billion (nearly €100 million as at 7 October 2019).
A trade union representative has stated that the news did not come as a shock, and that is very important how the company handles the downsizing. He added that in earlier restructuring processes, the dialogue between the management and employees had been good.
The company has operated in Norway for 150 years and has 4,300 employees and 8,000 dairy farms.
Eurofound (2019), Tine, Internal restructuring in Norway, factsheet number 98613, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/98613.