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.
On 17 February 2017, Germany-based conglomerate Siemens announced to cut 330 out of 580 jobs at its site in Tübingen-Kilchberg by 2020. The company plans to relocate the assembling of motors to Mohelnice, Czech Republic. The relocation will be finished by the end of spring in 2020.
Management confirmed that they will work on a social plan aimed at supporting early retirement. Furthermore, there will be some possibilities to transfer to other plants and a further qualification programme. Negotiations with the works’ council will start shortly.
In 2016, Siemens announced to create up to 1,000 new jobs in Cuxhaven (Siemens, 2016), but also to cut 1,700 jobs at several sites in Germany (Siemens, 2016).
Siemens currently employs 113,000 employees in Germany.
UPDATE 16/08/2017: Instead of the 330 job reductions announced in earlier this year, Siemens now stated it will cut only 249 jobs at its site in Tübingen-Kilchberg over the next 4 years. Affected employees will be offered early or partial retirement options, transfers and cancellation agreements. In addition, remaining employees are obliged to invest two hours per week into further training (without pay compensation).
Eurofound (2017), Siemens , Offshoring/Delocalisation in Germany, factsheet number 90386, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/90386.