MAJORITY OF MCCAULEY’S HQ STAFF OPT TO TAKE REDUNDANCY
Less than a handful of those previously employed at Sam McCauley’s offices in Ardcavan will remain with the company following its decision to relocate its headquarters to Dublin. Although offered roles within the company’s new offices in Citywest, the vast majority of the 30 members of staff have chosen to accept redundancy packages instead.
However, this newspaper understands that these packages were accepted reluctantly as some staff interested in remaining with the company could not meet the costs associated with either moving or commuting to Dublin.
Commenting on the dilemma which faced them, Labour Councillor George Lawlor said, ‘Less than a handful have availed of the option to move to Dublin. But it’s totally unreasonable to expect people to travel that distance every day and have any sort of quality of life’.
The pharmacy chain announced the move in November of last year as part of an overall expansion of the company which will see the business double in size within the next five years and employment grow from 600 employess to 1,000. Explaining the decision to relocate to the capital, Chief Exective Tony McEntee at the time cited a lack of suitable candidates in the Wexford region, saying, ‘We are struggling to recruit people locally. As a business we need to grow and we need talent to grow.’
Despite offers from local recruitment companies to assist in the resourcing of staff, free-of-charge, and a last-ditch attempt by Labour leader, Brendan Howlin, to mediate with executives at Sam McCauley’s, the move has gone ahead as planned.
Initially planned for last Friday, staff were informed on Tuesday of last week that Thursday would be their final day at Ardcavan. Removal vans arrived outside the offices on Thursday morning and by lunchtime the premises were being emptied.
‘ This has been a tremendously traumatic experience for the staff,’ said Cllr Lawlor.
The former staff of Sam McCauley’s Ardcavan offices subsequently released a statement which read: ‘We would sincerely like to thank the people of Wexford for the support they have shown us over the past four months. It has been a sad and difficult time for all of us but the help and support we have received has been inspiring and encouraging and has been greatly appreciated.’
Stating that he had spoken to a couple of staff members who had managed to secure employment elsewhere, Cllr Lawlor said, ‘Given the quality of staff that were out there I’ve no doubt that they will all secure employment in the coming months.’