“Significant layoffs at one of the area’s largest employers is terrible news for Lansdale and for our surrounding communities," said Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert. “The high quality jobs that Merck has been able to offer at all of their facilities helped grow Lansdale into what it is today and it is a real detriment to our community that they are choosing to make this massive change to so many lives. 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.”