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.
Magyar Telekom, the Hungarian affiliate of Deutsche Telekom, announced that it will cut its workforce by 400 staff. Much of the dismissals will take place during the first quarter of 2019. The measure, according to the agreement negotiated with the employee representatives, will be linked to a wage rise of 6 percent on average for the remaining staff starting 1 April 2019. The firm will also spend HUF 4.3 billion (€ 13.3 million) on severance payments.
This layoff is part of a long-term process of reducing labour costs: sizeable workforce cuts were implemented in the previous three years as well.
Magyar Telekom is the largest telecommunication firm in Hungary, with a workforce of nearly 7000 employees.
Eurofound (2018), Magyar Telekom, Internal restructuring in Hungary, factsheet number 96211, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/96211.