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 German spectacle lens manufacturer Optovision is cutting 230 out of 360 jobs at its Langen site and relocating production to the Czech Republic and Thailand.
The company cites increased production costs and falling demand, particularly due to the loss of a major customer, as the reasons for the cuts. The works council and employees were informed of the cuts at the end of February, but it is still unclear when and until when the job cuts will take place.
The planned job reduction measures are still unclear, but there are talks about social plans and severance payments, while further job losses at suppliers are possible. The trade union ver.di has criticised the decision as profit-oriented and has opposed the job cuts.
Optovision has been part of the Rodenstock Group since 1998, which was taken over by private equity investor Apax in 2021.
Eurofound (2025), Optovision, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Germany, factsheet number 202444, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/202444.