TL;DR: Veteran bookkeepers Siobhan Fanning and Sandra Breen allege age discrimination and unfair dismissal after being overlooked in a merger between MG Business Advisory Services Ltd and Callan Stringer & Co. Despite decades of service, they claim their contributions were marginalized during an “administrative error,” raising serious questions about ageism in the workplace.
Siobhan Fanning and Sandra Breen, both in their 60s, find themselves at the center of a controversial employment dispute after a merger left them without jobs they’d held for over four decades. The pair, long-time employees of Callan Stringer & Co, allege that MG Business Advisory Services Ltd forgot their existence during a significant business takeover. The women claim that not only were they overlooked, but they also faced ageist discrimination and unfair treatment, which they have taken to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
The saga began on February 19, 2025, when an announcement at a meeting about the merger ignited fears among Fanning and Breen about their job security. It was clear the transition to MG Business Advisory would be accompanied by a high-tech approach that rendered their skills seemingly obsolete. “They don’t use Excel,” Fanning recalled, feeling a mix of disbelief and despair. The commented sentiment was a slap in the face, highlighting how the industry tends to glorify youth and new technology at the expense of seasoned expertise.
While younger colleagues received assurances regarding their positions, both Fanning and Breen were left facing an uncertain future. Their exclusion from the business transfer left them grappling with feelings of invisibility and marginalization. Breen noted, “I checked my online Revenue records and saw that while my employment with Callan Stringer was marked as ceased, I had not been registered as an employee of MG.” They attributed the dismissive treatment to their age, which raises uncomfortable questions: Are Irish companies still grappling with an ageist culture that undervalues experience?
Despite Fanning and Breen’s long service, MG Business Advisory stands by its defense, citing an “administrative error” that left the women unregistered as employees after the merger. The tribunal heard that the company’s owner, Mark Gibbons, maintained they had communicated adequately regarding the transition. However, both women argue that inadequate communication lasted for what felt like an excruciatingly brief 15 minutes at the pivotal meeting.
Adding a dose of controversy, you can’t help but wonder how a firm could stumble on something as crucial as employee transfer during a merger, especially with highly experienced staff involved. If nearly half a century of dedication merits such negligence, what does that say about the prevailing attitudes towards seasoned professionals in today’s fast-paced business environment?
In an era where ageism lurks behind boardroom doors, this situation is a poignant reminder of the critical importance of valuing all levels of experience in the workplace. It raises vital questions about how companies could inadvertently reinforce harmful stereotypes while trying to modernize. Perhaps there’s a lesson here—not just for MG Business Advisory, but for all companies: bridging the gap between experience and innovation could be the key to a truly robust workforce.
Did you know? According to a 2022 study by the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, over 60% of older workers believe they face discrimination in the workplace, particularly in terms of training and skill development. This troubling statistic highlights the urgent need to challenge ageist perceptions and safeguard the invaluable contributions of seasoned professionals.
