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.
Österreichische Post, a large Austrian postal service provider, is to cut 1,500 jobs across Austria by the end of 2009. The job cuts are due to overcapacity in the mail delivery services section of the organization, and will affect the 10,500 postmen employed by the organization. Österreichische Post has stated that the job losses will be realized through 'natural turnover', and foresees the staff cuts being achieved through retirements and employees voluntarily leaving the organization. The Austrian Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees is strictly opposed to the job cuts, and has threatened to organize industrial action in response to the job losses. Österreichische Post management argue that increasing competition in the liberalised post and courier service sector make restructuring imperative. Österreichische Post employs 25,000 in Austria.
Eurofound (2007), Österreichische Post, Internal restructuring in Austria, factsheet number 65759, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65759.