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.
Ventilation manufacturer ebm-pabst announced to cut up to 170 jobs at its sites in St. Georgen (Baden-Wurttemberg), Herbolzheim (Baden-Wurttemberg) and Lauf (Bavaria). Job cuts are to be realised until the end of 2022 by not prolonging fixed-term contracts (including those of temporary agency workers) as well as offering early retirement options. The cuts are necessary due to a decline in sales especially in the automotive sector.
The company promised that job cuts will be implemented in a socially acceptable manner. Currently, the company is negotiating details of the job cuts with employee representatives.
The ebm-papst company, is based in Mulfingen (Hohenlohekreis), produces fans and motors for air conditioning and ventilation systems, but also for the household appliance and automotive industries and employs around 15,000 people worldwide.
Eurofound (2021), Ebm-papst, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 105851, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/105851.