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 German automotive supplier Eberspächer announced the closure of its plant in Schwäbisch Gmünd which will result in 130 redundancies. The management informed works council and employees of the decision and blamed the current economic crisis for this drastic step. Reportedly, under the current conditions the company cannot cover its production costs. Eberspächer has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis and does not expect to recover in the foreseeable future, making this step inevitable. Management and works council will start negotiation on a social plan shortly.
A time frame for the closure has yet to be announced.
Eurofound (2020), Eberspächer, Closure in Germany, factsheet number 101445, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101445.