Bank forced to rehire workers after lying about chatbot productivity, union says

The article reports that Australia's largest bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), was forced to rehire workers after falsely claiming that chatbots had increased productivity. The Finance Sector Union (FSU) accused CBA of misrepresenting the capabilities of chatbots and firing employees without proper justification. According to the FSU, CBA had claimed that chatbots had boosted productivity by 50%, which the union said was a fabrication. The bank was required to reinstate the terminated employees after the union filed a successful legal challenge. The incident highlights the potential risks of over-relying on automation and the importance of transparent and ethical practices in the implementation of new technologies. The bank's actions were criticized for prioritizing cost-cutting over the wellbeing of its workforce. The article emphasizes the need for careful consideration and dialogue between employers, workers, and unions when introducing technological changes to ensure a fair and balanced approach that protects both the interests of the business and the rights of employees.