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 Italian-based bank Unicredit is planning to cut up to 7290 jobs in Western Europe before the end of 2015. There is contradictory information on whether they will at the same time expand their business in Eastern Europe by 1135 jobs.
Slightly varying numbers have been reported by different sources of the extent of the cuts, but according to a company presentation (14.11.2011) approximately 5200 jobs will be cut in Italy itself, the remaining job losses will occur in other countries within Europe. It is not yet clear in which countries the job creation in Eastern Europe will occur.
The bank is mainly slimming down its investment banking operations: around 8 per cent of staff in its investment banking division will be cut. One source (BBC News) estimates that 150 jobs will be lost in London, where many of Unicredit's investment banking staff are based.
The cuts follow write-downs in the value of several past acquisitions, linked to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe.
Eurofound (2011), Unicredit, Internal restructuring in European Union, factsheet number 72716, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/72716.