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.
In October 2025, the city of Esslingen announced plans to cut 200 positions from its municipal administration, which currently employs around 2,100 people. The job reduction scheme will be realised gradually until 2030.
The decision is driven by declining business tax revenues and rising personnel costs. The town wants to save approximately €15 million through the job cuts by the end of 2030.
The city aims to implement the job cuts in a socially responsible manner and avoid forced redundancies. Measures include retirements and letting temporary contracts expire without filling vacant positions. At the same time, the administration is investing in digitalisation and efficiency improvements. Automated processes are expected to reduce staffing needs or allow for more targeted use of personnel.
Eurofound (2025), City of Esslingen, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 203476, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://dev.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/203476.