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 company Eberspächer, a manufacturer of exhaust technology and heating systems for the car manufacturing industry, will continue to cut jobs at the Neunkirchen plant. After cutting about 60 jobs in 2006, the company has now announced its plans to cut an additional 185 jobs out of current 1,800 in 2007. The job cutting measures are needed to keep the unit at its current location, the company says. Management argues that Eberspächer has run into financial difficulties due to management mistakes made at its USA-based unit when it was affected by decreasing sales of German car manufacturers in the USA. 40 jobs out of 340 were cut in the USA. At the same time, a collective agreement has been reached in another unit of the company in Eschweiler. The agreement has the aim to guarantee employment.
Eurofound (2007), Eberspächer, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 65397, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65397.