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.
As announced on 21 September 2020, the German media firm Bertelsmann will be cutting 100 jobs at its headquarter in Gütersloh until 2021 due to internal restructuring. Bertelsmann is facing a drop in sales of 40% due to the COVID-19 crisis and needs to adapt to the new market environment. Therefore, Bertelsmann will be restructuring its entire corporate center in Gütersloh by 2021. The goal of the restructuring is to save €35 million annually. Management and works council will start negotiations shortly. CEO Rabe emphasised that there will be a socially acceptable solution for every employee.
Currently, Bertelsmann has 700 employees in Güterloh.
Eurofound (2020), Bertelsmann, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 101871, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101871.