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.
The US network producer Infinera will be closing its plant in Berlin in September 2019, which will result in the loss of 400 jobs. According to Infinera, the closure is part of a global restructuring programme. Local politicians strongly oppose Infinera’s plan to close the plant as they fear that German key technology for the security sector, which is used by the Federal Armed Forces and intelligence services in Germany, might be sold abroad. On 27 March 2019, works council and management agreed on severance package for all employees including a transition company, both budgeted with €24.5 million.
Eurofound (2019), Infinera, Closure in Germany, factsheet number 97564, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/97564.