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.

Wehkamp, a Dutch online department store operating in the retail sector, has announced a restructuring involving the reduction of 103 jobs out of 1,100, primarily affecting management roles at its headquarters in Zwolle and its private label office in Hilversum. Most of the job losses (84) will be through natural attrition and by not renewing temporary contracts. The restructuring was announced on 8 July 2025 and follows approval by the Works Council on 1 July 2025. The move is part of a simplification strategy initiated by the new leadership under a new interim CEO. The company had previously experienced workforce reductions and reported a €9 million loss in 2024, driven by shifting consumer behaviour due to economic uncertainty. Founded over 70 years ago as a mail-order mattress business, Wehkamp was one of the first major Dutch online retailers to introduce a returns fee in 2023, which led to a 15% drop in returns
Eurofound (2025), Wehkamp, Internal restructuring in Netherlands, factsheet number 203048, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/203048.