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.
Deutsche Bahn is the main company that provides train transportation in Germany. The company opened 20 years ago an office in Paris to sell train tickets to its local customers. On 30th June 2016, the office closed due to a reorganisation of the customer services and operations were moved back to Frankfurt, Germany. The company declares that the backshoring is going to allow for better international distribution to consolidate relations with European partners, and to be more reactive in decision making. However, journalists that are commenting the fact link the move to the possibility to buy train tickets through the company internet platform. Phone services will continue to be provided by the company through German and English phone numbers. Finally, DB declares that it is going to try to keep all French workers through a re-allocation.
Eurofound (2016), Deutsche Bahn, Reshoring in Germany, factsheet number 162, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/162.