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 mail-order shopping company Otto is to create at least 170 jobs in 2015. A member of the company's management board announced to hire between 250 and 300 people. Two thirds of the jobs will be newly created.
Otto has invested €60 million in the past business year and intends to increase investment to a three-digit million sum. As business with electronic devices has increased, Otto wants to extend its IT consulting department and is mainly looking for employees with IT skills for the headquarters in Hamburg.
Otto Group is one of the biggest German online retailers, currently employing 4,350 people in Germany and more than 54,000 worldwide and within its numerous subsidies. In previous years Otto has sold products mainly via catalogue orders, now 85% of orders are placed online. The last time Otto has created jobs was in 2009. In 2013, Otto Group has cut 270 jobs across various locations.
Eurofound (2015), Otto, Business expansion in Germany, factsheet number 79115, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/79115.