14 Hour Per Day

[htyotispharm]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I'm a P3 that works for CVS in the southeast. As of Feb 1 the pharmacy hours changed from 8-9 to 8-10. Most of the pharmacies only have 2 pharmacists. In order to get a day off during the week, you must work a couple 14hr days. Most pharmacists work 2 on and off (60hr on wk 1 and 24 on wk 2). No one knew of the hour change until one week before it was in effect. Since then, my district has lost 14 pharmacists in 3 months and are now considering closing some of the slower stores early and having those pharmacist work at the busier ones until closing. IS THIS FAIR TO THE PHARMACISTS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY FOR 10,20,30 YEARS TO HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS IS THE WANT TO KEEP THEIR PERKS? Also, the base hours for each pharmacist is now 88 hrs per pay period in which the don't get paid any overtime.

 

[Caverject]

You must be from Georgia....

CVS can do whatever they want. If their pharmacists don't like it, they can quit and find employment elsewhere. Don't forget, it's a pharmacists market out there.

 

[dgroulx]

I worked for CVS last year as an intern. I'm now with Walgreens. There is a world of difference in how pharmacists are treated, how workflow is kept running smoothly, etc.

It sucks that they have to work that way, but like Caverject said, there are plenty of jobs elsewhere.

 

[indoflip]

It's funny how things can be so different in a different part of the country. I worked for Walgreens all throughout pharm school and I now work for CVS as a pharmacist. Since CVS is new to the Chicago area they are much slower and not everyone works a 14 hour shift. At the store I was trained their RPhs did one 36 hour and one 44 hour week and had an 8 hour person every week. They did two 14 hour days each week but liked it since they had shorter weeks as the tradeoff. I hated Walgreens and basically felt like a factory worker but at CVS I get to be able to counsel and take it easy (at least for now while it's still not busy).

 

[gablet]

I worked for Walgreens all throughout pharm school and I now work for CVS as a pharmacist.

I noticed that your signature says that you graduated March 11. Since you are working as a pharmacist now, does that mean you can take the NAPLEX before you graduate?

 

[indoflip]

I noticed that your signature says that you graduated March 11. Since you are working as a pharmacist now, does that mean you can take the NAPLEX before you graduate?

I'm not sure if you can. But I do know that all you need to get permission to take the exam is the form from your school certifying that you have completed all your requirements for graduation. As to whether you actually need to walk across the stage to do it I don't know. I took the NAPLEX in April and got my results back fairly quickly (2 weeks). MPJE only took 1 week to come back.

 

[Ivorymist]

Sounds like the Georgia CVS's to me too...

From what I've seen CVS employees get treated fairly poorly in Georgia. They are very stingy with their tech help and the Rphs have to work strange schedules and there is virtually no overlap between the pharmacists. There are two pharmacists at each store (usually) and they hardly see each other during the week.

Also, they were EXTREMELY aggressive in pursuing new grads from our school. Most of us knew that their tactics were kinda fishy though so not too many of us signed on with them.

 

[microbe hunter]

Sounds like the Georgia CVS's to me too...

From what I've seen CVS employees get treated fairly poorly in Georgia. They are very stingy with their tech help and the Rphs have to work strange schedules and there is virtually no overlap between the pharmacists. There are two pharmacists at each store (usually) and they hardly see each other during the week.

Also, they were EXTREMELY aggressive in pursuing new grads from our school. Most of us knew that their tactics were kinda fishy though so not too many of us signed on with them.

I would think that they want new grads because they can pay them less.

TO the original poster who says that this does not seem fair to people who have been working there for 10 years or so, I agree with that assessment. I think that it is one of many reasons why there should be pharmacist unions on a local level so that you can't get phased out of a town like that without a semblance of job stability.

 

[Ivorymist]

No, from what I understand they pay the new grads at CVS the same as they do someone who's been there for 5, 10, 20 years...unless if they're a pharmacy manager.

CVS expanding like crazy in GA, and they just need more rphs to fuel their expansion.

 

[LBS615]

I have a friend who is a pharm D grad this month. She interned with CVS all through school. Her contract is for around $103,000 starting. Not too shabby.

 

[Caverject]

I would think that they want new grads because they can pay them less.

TO the original poster who says that this does not seem fair to people who have been working there for 10 years or so, I agree with that assessment. I think that it is one of many reasons why there should be pharmacist unions on a local level so that you can't get phased out of a town like that without a semblance of job stability.

Just want a pharmacist needs, to pay into the AFL-CIO. That would create much more harm than good for pharmacists. Also too, pharmacists have it easy compared to a physicians schedule most of the time.

 

[ZpackSux]

Screw union..

 

[gablet]

Unions had their purpose - to ensure safe working conditions. Now, they have gotten out of hand. To have them would only lessen the professional status pharmacy now has.

 

[htyotispharm]

I'm in S. Carolina.
The only reason CVS is expanding so much and going to 10:00pm is because Walgreens is expaniding like crazy in S. Carolina. The new grads here are affored $93600 + $5000 bonus.