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.
Portigon, successor group to former landesbanken WestLB, will cut more than 1,400 jobs by the end of 2013. This is due to a weak order position. As announced, 2,450 workers will be made redundant in the next 3 years. By the end of 2012, Portigon employed 2,600 people. This will be reduced to 150 by the end of 2016. Additionally, Portigon aims to outsource 360 jobs in its IT section and will employ 500 employees in a service company. Forced redundancies are not ruled out.
The European Commission ordered WestLB to cease operations in June 2012 as a condition tied to the 17 billion euros in state aid received following the global financial crisis.
Eurofound (2013), Portigon, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 75279, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/75279.