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.
The retail chain Karstadt intends to cut 2,000 positions by the end of 2014. The job cuts will be realised by natural attrition.
According to the management, the restructuring is necessary to remain competitive and ensure long-term success. The plans are criticized by the United Services Union (ver.di), which points out the need for modernising work organisation and sales products.
The plans were announced when Karstadt was about to resume normal employee remuneration in accord with the sector's collective agreement, after staff had received reduced entitlements for the past three years to allow for the turnaround of the company.
Karstadt employs about 24,400 staff. The chain was taken over by investor Nicolas Berggruen in 2010 after being threatened with insolvency.
Eurofound (2012), Karstadt, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 73908, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/73908.