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 paper and packaging company Billerud is cutting up to 590 jobs in Sweden as part of a cost reduction plan, which aims to reduce costs by SEK 800 million in annual savings. The redundancies affect all five of the company’s Swedish mills as well as the head office. At the mill in Gävle, 180 of the 900 employees are being given notice, while in Grums the number is 160. In Frövi/Rockhammar, 90 positions are affected, the same number as at the mill in Norrköping. In Kalix, 40 jobs are at risk. According to Billerud’s Director of Communications, whether the positions involve white-collar staff or production workers has not been disclosed, as this remains subject to trade union negotiations.
In a press release, company management explained the cuts by pointing at the weak market conditions that have led to a deteriorating financial performance. The company launches a cost-minimising program aiming to lower fixed costs through more efficient working methods and workforce reductions across all functions and locations within Billerud’s Europe Region. In total, up to 650 positions across Europe may be impacte: Billerud 2025 - WO.
The trade union Swedish Paper Workers' Union (Pappers) said that the announcement severely impacts its members, their families, and entire local communities. The organisation now expects the employer to take responsibility and engage in open and constructive dialogue with the union.
Billerud is a Swedish company with about 5,800 employees globally, of which approximately 2,000 are employed in Sweden.
Eurofound (2025), Billerud, Internal restructuring in Sweden, factsheet number 203328, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/203328.