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.
Wehmeyer, a German clothing retailer with a head office based in Aachen, announced insolvency in July 2008 with the loss of 450 jobs across 16 stores. The company employed a total of 950 people. When it first announced insolvency, it was unclear how many would lose their jobs. The company tried hard to avoid job losses.
In November 2008, a buyer was found for the company, and the remaining 500 jobs were saved. 23 of the 39 stores remain open.
Eurofound (2008), Wehmeyer, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 68104, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/68104.