UPDATE: Oct. 17, 2:29 p.m. - A representative from Merck has emailed the following statement to North Penn Now:
The WARN notice yesterday is regarding several changes in our U.S. commercial organization. Approximately 500 people will be affected in select sales and headquarters commercial teams. The roles being eliminated are located across all states; but for administrative purposes, the jobs are associated with Merck’s U.S. headquarters in Upper Gwynedd, PA. Employees who jobs are impacted by these changes can apply to other open positions at Merck. Impacted employees who are not placed in a role will be offered a comprehensive separation package and will separate from Merck on Jan. 3, 2020. At the same time we are eliminating certain U.S. jobs, we are also adding new U.S. jobs in growth areas, such as oncology, based on changes in our portfolio. This is not a new restructuring effort; these changes are part of ongoing company-wide efforts to sharpen Merck’s focus on innovative research and development that addresses significant unmet medical needs and on our best opportunities for growth.
According to the filing, Merck intends to layoff 500 employees in Lansdale and Upper Gwynedd, including some working remotely outside of the state.
“Significant layoffs at one of the area’s largest employers is terrible news for Lansdale and for our surrounding communities. The high quality jobs that Merck has been able to offer at all of their facilities helped grow Lansdale into what it is today. Obviously, it is our hope that Merck is able to retain many of the area employees in other facilities putting those highly trained employees back to work as soon as possible for the sake of their families and their well-being. As a working-class town, Lansdale residents know the value of their labor and the dignity that is attained through providing for their families. It is important that as a community we band together to help those who may enter hardship due to this sudden shift in our local economy.”
The closure has an effective date of Jan. 3, 2020, according to the filing. Efforts to reach Merck & Co. Inc. for comment have been unsuccessful at this time.
This is a breaking news story from North Penn Now. We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.
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