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 enamelled wire manufacturer, Essex, will cut 120 out of around 380 jobs by the end of 2015. The reduction will affect both production plants in Bad Arolsen and Bramsche with respectively 110 and 10 jobs.
The company intends to concentrate on round-wire production and to reduce production of flat wire where competition is stiffer. In the following weeks, the detailed restructuring plan is to be negotiated between management, works council and trade union IG Metall. The union has criticized the job cutting and indicated its suspicions that the company intends to relocate flat wire production to Italy. The management says the job reduction is necessary to secure the future of the German plants.
Eurofound (2015), Essex, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 78222, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/78222.