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.
In 2006 German insurer Talanx acquired Cologne-based German insurer Gerling and announced the restructuring of its life insurance operations. Talanx' life insurance company HDI Leben and the life insurance unit of Gerling, Gerling Leben, were merged to create HDI-Gerling Lebensversicherung AG. HDI-Gerling Lebensversicherung and Talanx subsidiary Aspecta became part of a newly established group HDI Gerling Leben Serviceholding AG. In 2006 Talanx announced that by establishing the new structure 500 jobs in the life insurance unit, 1,250 in the accident insurance unit and 50 jobs in financial services would be cut. Altogether 1,800 jobs are planned to be shed. The life insurance operations will be concentrated at Cologne.
In May 2007 HDI-Gerling Lebensversicherung announced that it would cut 420 jobs in Hamburg and Wiesbaden. Affected employees are going to be asked whether they are willing to move to Cologne or, instead, accept the agreed social plan and leave the company.
Eurofound (2006), Talanx, Merger/Acquisition in Germany, factsheet number 62627, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/62627.