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.
As announced on 17 January 2012, German manufacturer of offset printing presses Heidelberger Druckmaschinen will cut approx. 1,200 jobs in Germany until the end of 2012 as a part of its "FOCUS 2012" efficiency programme. The programme aims to reduce costs and improve profitability.
Worldwide up to 2,000 jobs are affected by the job cuts. In Germany, the company's production, development, administration, sales and marketing sections are affected. In total, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen employs 15,666 people worldwide, most of them in Heidelberg and Wiesloch, Baden-Württemberg.
Union representatives announced protest against the cuts.
In 2009, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen received financial aid from the German state due to its difficult economic situation. It has implemented major collective redundancies in the last couple of years, with 4,000 jobs cut in 2009 (see here) and 500 jobs in 2010 (see here).
Eurofound (2012), Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 72991, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/72991.