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.
German automobile manufacturer Daimler announced to cut 800 out of 8,000 jobs within the next seven years. A total of 500 jobs will be made redundant in Mannheim where the company currently employs 5,100 people. In Kassel, 300 out of 2,900 jobs will be cut.
In Mannheim, where Daimler produces Mercedes engines, jobs will be cut in the logistics section as the company wants to outsource logistics to external providers in the future. According to the company, external providers are up to 50 pc cheaper.
The job reduction shall be implemented in a socially acceptable manner without operational dismissals. Most of the employees will leave the company due to retirement and their jobs will not be reoccupied.
Recent restructuring cases at Daimler lead to the reduction of around 1,630 jobs in Germany (see Evobus 2012, Daimler Trucks 2013 and Mercedes-Benz 2013).
Eurofound (2014), Daimler, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 77956, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/77956.