On Thursday 10 November the Confederation of German Trade Unions (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB) presented its annual ‘Gute Arbeit’ (Good Work) index, which pilloried the problems arising from the badly managed digitalization process. Workers’ responses reveal that digitalization is increasing workloads and the number of tasks that need to be carried out. It is also criticized for creating stress and health problems. Most pressing from amongst workers’ concerns are problems relating to rising employee monitoring and an overwhelming majority decry the lack of employee input into ‘digital’ change. According to the DGB the data indicate that digitalization cannot succeed without the co-operation of and in-depth consultation with employee representatives. Employers have placed a question mark over the index results and make mention of political manipulation.
Can a ‘win-win’ digitalization exist? Perhaps, but if results from the Gute Arbeit 2016 (Good Work) index are anything to go by then there is still a long way to go. Presented by the Confederation of German Trade Unions on 10 November this study has been conducted annually since 2007 and investigates the quality of work in Germany. Some 9,737 workers are surveyed on fifteen topics grouped into three separate categories (resources, arduous work, wages and safety). The 2016 survey focused particu
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