Merck to lay off 500

Oct. 18, 2019

Merck said it plans to eliminate approximately 500 jobs largely based out of Pennsylvania along with a small number of New Jersey positions.

The cuts, primarily in the company’s Human Health Division, will occur at the drugmaker's facilities in Upper Gwynedd Township, PA and Lansdale, PA, however the roles being eliminated are actually across states because positions are associated with Merck’s U.S. commercial operations headquarters in Upper Gwynedd for administrative purposes.

The company’s mass layoff notice to the state indicates the cuts will mostly affect field-based and office-based sales personnel, along with a “small amount” of marketing employees.

Merck says the changes are part of ongoing companywide efforts to sharpen focus on innovative research and development that addresses significant unmet medical needs. The layoffs will be effective Jan. 3, according to a required WARN notice filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

Read the WARN notice