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 electric utilities company Rheinisch-Westfälisches Elektrizitätswerk (RWE) will cut 500 positions in its electricity generation divisions by the end of 2015. According to the company the job reduction is due to an attempt to cut costs.
In 2013 RWE already announced job reduction plans affecting about 2,500 jobs in Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Job cuts were justified with the declining electricity prices. An top of that, RWE has been facing low utilisation of its gas and coal power stations. According to RWE's CEO if electricity prices continue to decline, RWE will follow the example of its competitor E.ON and outsource its power plant division.
Eurofound (2015), RWE, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 85444, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/85444.