- Joined
- Feb 11, 2008
- Messages
- 482
- Reaction score
- 206
Hello, guys . I am receptive to all feedback , critique , or calling out my bs if I’m wrong but what do you guys think about the following - I worked as a retail pharmacist for one of the big chains for nearly a decade as salaried and towards the end hourly pharmacist and found there was far more flexibility with scheduling . If I needed to take care of an errand and arrived 15-20 minutes later or I am sick and have no more PTO/PST, i could call out and that was the end of it - what was the consequence if i had no more PTO/PST and i'm sick or have an emergency ? Nothing- i simply didn't get paid for the day and that was it . No points that accumulate and go against you . If you needed to leave a little earlier, you can ask another pharmacist colleague if they were cool with that and take off if needed . You felt more like a professional who has some discretion over work time . Fast forward 1.5 years into my current role as a consult pharmacist working for a PBM , and anytime you have an emergency , need to leave a little earlier , or even clock in 5 minutes late, it seems to be a problem because the company has some “point system “ in which they target you for any “unscheduled absence” whether it is an emergency or not . They seem to expect you to make up even 45 minutes of the time on some random day or time you have off or you’re dinged with a point or “occurrence “. It is demeaning and honestly makes you as a pharmacist feel like you are nothing more to them than a cashier or some hourly wage slave . Here’s a great example - you work 40 hours a week, you have run out of PTO or PST for the year and you have to leave 2 or 3 hours early just once . Well, guess what ? Instead of just not paying you for those 2 or 3 hours, they expect you to make it up on another day or time that same week and if you don’t or can’t because of other obligations , you get punished with a point as if in you’re in junior high or high school . In my 11 years as a pharmacist , I never faced that problem . If I didn’t work the full 40 hours for the week and only worked 35 hours and have no more PTO to use, that would be my problem and I would simply be paid for 35 hours and that’s it . No one at the chains cared to punish a professional with points . It seems childish and inappropriate for a doctorate holding professional . Yesterday half way through my shift , I had to take 45 minutes after my lunch due to a family emergency involving a sick relative and when I got back , the supervisor asked me about making up the 45 minutes since I don’t have PTO. I told her I would be ok starting 45 minutes earlier on a shift next week , but no- the company has a policy in place in which you must make up that time the same week . The supervisor very well knew I had a 3 day planned weekend coming up . I told him I would be unable to make up those 45 minutes and that it was somewhat ridiculous holding a professional accountable for every minute or hour not worked and that life happens even after you run out of PTO/PST. I told him I don’t understand what’s the problem with simply not paying me for those 45 minutes - don’t pay me and that’s it , it’s my loss , not theirs . Surprisingly, my supervisor did acknowledge the point system the PBM has in place is punitive . Other issues - I’ve had a case of covid this year after I used up my time off - guess what ? That’s considered an “unscheduled absence” and you can take the day off but get points . I don’t know if this rigid policy is in place because it’s a call center rph job . And by the way, I am a top performer and like the job . All I do is counsel patients and reinforce my knowledge everyday . But **** happens . Life happens . In retail , I knew many other pharmacists and we’d swap shifts , if someone came in 10 minutes late, it wasn’t a problem . Here they are sticklers down to 1 minute . I am not used to such rigid policies and am seriously thinking of leaving once I reach 2 years in this role (6 months from now ). I feel like I’m their servant and not a professional . This role is WFH. If I didn’t work 40 hours that week, had an emergency and called out last moment because I woke up sick or some other issue and have no PST or PTO, who gives a damn ? Don’t pay me . Move on . It’s my problem . I’ve never worked in a setting in which they expect you to make it up or you get “points”. There is no room for professional discretion with the ability to swap a shift with a colleague, get sick unexpectedly without getting an absent point etc . Funny thing is every couple of months they are hiring pharmacists and state it’s the because the pharmacy is growing ….hmmmmm…I’m starting to feel it’s because of high turnover . I told the supervisor straight out I will take the “occurrence” but I was not going to account for every goddamn minute if I have a family emergency or something happens to me . I’ve been in this role now for 1.5 years, am at the top in terms of metrics per my supervisor , and it’s just easy . I make about $3.60 less than retail now . I truly don’t understand what’s the issue with simply not paying the person if they worked 38 hours instead of 40. Even my “attendance” metric is good . Am I a cashier or a factory worker for crying out loud ? I don’t owe anyone anything nor am I a servant to anybody . I am waiting to reach 2 years in the position in order to look good and stable and look for other roles . Never had an issue in a decade of work . Please enlighten me . Thanks .
