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.

Catalogue and online retailer Otto announced to cut 480 jobs in its call centres by the end of August 2025. The company stated that changed customer preferences, a weak economy and strong competition have led to this decision.
The call centres in Alzenau, Bad Salzuflen, Bochum, Niederzier, Kassel, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Nuremberg will be closed due to a decline in phone orders. Affected employees will be offered severance pay or will be placed in a transfer agency, tasked with supporting the redundant employees in finding a new job.
Customer services in Magdeburg, Neubrandenburg, Hamburg, Dresden and Erfurt will continue as before. Around 700 employees are employed at these sites.
Eurofound (2025), Otto, Closure in Germany, factsheet number 202406, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/202406.