A couple of entrepreneurs build houses for their employees who can't go home for Christmas
When Christmas time approaches, it makes sense to take a break from work, and be reunited with loved ones in time to celebrate the most anticipated day of the year. But the same cannot be said for those who are forced to work away from their home country and who can't make it home for Christmas to avoid losing their job and their income. However, two very generous and extremely far-sighted employers have thought of this.
via RTE News
Spouses Patricia and Tony Walsh, who live and work in County Kerry in Ireland, employ around 120 people at the Walsh Color Print and Educate Company. However, many of these employees come from countries other than Ireland, as the couple could not find enough local candidates for a type of work that is quite specialized and detailed. Unfortunately, however, the high cost of rents in County Kerry prevented employees from being able to afford permanent, close-to-work accommodation, so many would have had to return to their home for Christmas, even if they wanted to stay in Ireland.
And this is where Patricia and Tony Walsh decided to give their employees a very surprising gift, just in time for the holiday season.
The Walsh's in fact decided to build 70 housing units on land already owned by Walsh Color Print, in Clonaugh. These houses have every comfort and were built on a non-profit basis to be sold to employees for about 30,000 euros, much less than the real market rate. Of these 70 housing units, 20 will be made available for employees and 50 will be sold on the open market.
Now in Clonaugh, the first families of non-Irish employees are moving into these new houses, to spend the holiday season in peace without being too far from their workplace; between employers and employees there was an informal agreement that anyone who purchases one of these housing units will remain with the company for the next 10 years.
A smart and very innovative way to keep the workforce and to guarantee workers a permanent job, a guaranteed salary and assure a future pension.
