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 Continental, based in Hanover, has announced that it will cut 450 jobs at its site in Gifhorn in Lower Saxony. The reasons behind the job cuts are, according to Continental, the sharply increased cost pressure in the automotive industry, declining automotive markets and the local cost structure, which is high and uncompetitive by international standards.
Parts of the production will be outsource to external supplier by the end of 2025. These measures will affect 450 of the current 900 jobs in Gifhorn. Additionally, air supply systems will be gradually relocated in 2024 and spare parts business will be relocated from 2024.
Since 2005, Continental has already taken numerous measures together with the employee representatives to improve the competitiveness of the location (Continental-2005-DE). Continental has also taken job reduction measures in other locations to adjust to the changing automotive industry (Continental-2022-DE). The measures in Gifhorn are not part of Continental's ongoing structural programme, which was launched in 2019 to enable the company's transformation in the face of structural change in the automotive industry (Continental-2022-DE). Continental generated sales for €39.4 billion in 2022 and currently employs around 200,000 people in 57 countries and markets.
Eurofound (2023), Continental, Outsourcing in Germany, factsheet number 109298, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/109298.