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.
Woolworth, the German retail chain, has announced that it plans to create about 2,000 new jobs across Europe by the end of 2026.
The company wants to launch over 200 new stores, with about 100 across Germany. In March 2026, Woolworth opened its 1,000th European store in Essen, Germany. Its long-term goal is to expand to 5,000 stores throughout Europe.
Founded in 1879 in the United States and active in Germany since 1926, Woolworth currently operates 1,000 stores across Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, employing over 14,000 people in Europe.
Previous business expansion event of Woolworth has been recorded in the ERM database: Woolworth 2025-EU.
Eurofound (2026), Woolworth, Business expansion in European Union, factsheet number 204439, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/204439.