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.
Zapf Creation AG, Europe's leading brand manufacturer of play and functional dolls including accessories, announced the launch of a comprehensive realignment program aimed at expanding the company's market position in the long term. The program is the company's response to the decrease in sales and earnings in 2003 and 2004. The program also focuses on far-reaching measures to adapt the company's cost structure to the current development of sales. Savings in administrative, selling and marketing expenses will contribute about 60% to the overall cost reduction. The company cannot prevent the reduction of approximately 135 of its 493 jobs worldwide. The cut in personnel costs will contribute about 40% to overall savings. About 60% of the staff reductions will be made in Germany - at headquarters, in the Central Europe business unit and in logistics. The company also intends to generate one-off savings of € 1.5 million by reducing current personnel costs in 2005.In any event, Zapf Creation will uphold its commitment to this important core market. The company will also define a brand and product strategy which promises sustained success. The measures to be implemented in this regard will be realized in the course of the year 2006.
Eurofound (2005), Zapf, Internal restructuring in World, factsheet number 61339, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/61339.