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.
On 5 August 2009, the Japanese automobile supplier Takata-Petri announced its plans to cut 367 jobs in Germany. The German production of steering wheels is to move to Romania. 335 jobs will be affected at its site in Aschaffenburg, 20 in Ulm and 12 in Berlin. Job downsizing concerns production as well as administration units. The company currently employs around 3,200 staff in Germany. Background to the job cuts is the low demand for the companies' products.
It should be noted that the current scheme for job cuts cannot be realised before 2010. Takata-Petri's sites in Germany are protected by job-security-pact until the end of 2009. Therefore, no dismissals due to operational reasons are possible until then. The German Metalworkers' Union already announced to offer resistance against the job downsizing.
Eurofound (2009), Takata-Petri, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Germany, factsheet number 69369, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/69369.