7 on 7 off daytime retail? Possible?

[Got Em]

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I'm still under contract, but I'm intrigued about the possibility of getting 6 or 7 days off every other weekend. How does the CVS scheduling work where you get 44 hrs/week? I'd assume you do 6 x 12s and 2 x 8s? What about walmart's 10 hr shifts? Anyway, does anybody here know someone that does 7 or 8 days straight and get 6 or 7 days off for retail?

 

[SkiPharmer]

yes, my friend works for a clinic and does 7 on 7 off, she works 35 hours a week and gets paid 35 hours a week....

 

[Got Em]

I had expected somebody to come on here and tell me how they know somebody that does this at the hospital, but man I was wrong....instead it's at the clinic.

I guess I need to restate my request for this information for RETAIL, such as CVS, Walmart, Wag, Target, etc. Thanks.

 

[Old Timer]

There is no retail operation I know that does 7 on and 7 off except for overnight.

 

[Got Em]

There is no retail operation I know that does 7 on and 7 off except for overnight.

How about 8 on and 6 off? I know that you work for CVS and some of you guys do 12 hour shifts. If you work the weekends, wouldn't that be 8 days total in the 2 weeks? Have you heard of anybody doing this 8 days straight?

 

[Old Timer]

How about 8 on and 6 off? I know that you work for CVS and some of you guys do 12 hour shifts. If you work the weekends, wouldn't that be 8 days total in the 2 weeks? Have you heard of anybody doing this 8 days straight?

NO, it does not work this way

 

[pharaday]

NO, it does not work this way

I agree. I think it is extremely unlikely that you would be able to arrange a schedule like that unless you agree to work third shift.

 

[MountainPharmD]

How about 8 on and 6 off? I know that you work for CVS and some of you guys do 12 hour shifts. If you work the weekends, wouldn't that be 8 days total in the 2 weeks? Have you heard of anybody doing this 8 days straight?

CVS does 14 hour shifts as they are open 8am to 10pm.

 

[Trakker]

How about 8 on and 6 off? I know that you work for CVS and some of you guys do 12 hour shifts. If you work the weekends, wouldn't that be 8 days total in the 2 weeks? Have you heard of anybody doing this 8 days straight?

try independent pharmacies; they are more flexible.

 

[Got Em]

CVS does 14 hour shifts as they are open 8am to 10pm.

You know, i like that even better. So basically you only work 7 days in 2 weeks anyway right?

 

[Ilikechemicals]

If you could find a partner willing to do that then you could do your schedule like that. However, you've must of never worked for CVS. Working for CVS is tough and then on top of that doing it for 14 hours straight? Once the mental fatigue sets in (around the 9th-10th hour) its just down right dangerous.

Trying to work/concentrate in an atmosphere that times every damn thing you do for 14 hours just leaves you exhausted and a danger to your patients.

I did 2-3 14 hour shifts a week for 5 months before I moved on.

Now in response to you question...the closest I ever saw at CVS were stores that had one pharmacist work 3 14 hour shifts and the other work 2 14 hour shifts per week then flip flop.

 

[mikerph]

do you get overtime for the 7 days on?

 

[Got Em]

If you could find a partner willing to do that then you could do your schedule like that. However, you've must of never worked for CVS. Working for CVS is tough and then on top of that doing it for 14 hours straight? Once the mental fatigue sets in (around the 9th-10th hour) its just down right dangerous.

Trying to work/concentrate in an atmosphere that times every damn thing you do for 14 hours just leaves you exhausted and a danger to your patients.

I did 2-3 14 hour shifts a week for 5 months before I moved on.

Now in response to you question...the closest I ever saw at CVS were stores that had one pharmacist work 3 14 hour shifts and the other work 2 14 hour shifts per week then flip flop.

Oh I've worked 14 hours straight on many occasions. I've worked at over 40 retail stores in my chain and can honestly say that my store is the busiest (not by number, but by help) store.

I'm interested in CVS schedule that you have stated. I actually went to talk to a pharmacist at CVS today and that's what she said about the 14s, but I didn't get how it worked. If you work 3x14, then 2x14, then do you work 2 more 8 hr shifts? Basically you would have 7 days off at random times every 2 weeks or do you get work M-W, Th-Fri off, then work Sat-Tue, then wed-sun off?

 

[PharmDstudent]

Oh I've worked 14 hours straight on many occasions. I've worked at over 40 retail stores in my chain and can honestly say that my store is the busiest (not by number, but by help) store.

I'm interested in CVS schedule that you have stated. I actually went to talk to a pharmacist at CVS today and that's what she said about the 14s, but I didn't get how it worked. If you work 3x14, then 2x14, then do you work 2 more 8 hr shifts? Basically you would have 7 days off at random times every 2 weeks or do you get work M-W, Th-Fri off, then work Sat-Tue, then wed-sun off?

For 14 hour shifts at the CVS where I worked, it was 5 shifts one week then 2 shifts the next week. I think it was something like Thur-Mon or Tues-Wed.

 

[spacecowgirl]

14 hour shifts should be illegal.

 

[owlegrad]

I'm still under contract, but I'm intrigued about the possibility of getting 6 or 7 days off every other weekend. How does the CVS scheduling work where you get 44 hrs/week? I'd assume you do 6 x 12s and 2 x 8s? What about walmart's 10 hr shifts? Anyway, does anybody here know someone that does 7 or 8 days straight and get 6 or 7 days off for retail?

We have one store in our district where the pharmacists do seven on seven off, but only during the summer months when it is slow. They like it and it works for them. They are a newer store and quite slow.

 

[pezdispenser]

Yes I do 8 x 10 hrs on, then get 6 days off. 9am-7:30pm. Work at home for Walgreens Power.

 

[Ackj]

The two week schedule for my store is Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Weekend, Tuesday, Friday. You work 7 days out of 2 weeks, and if you take off on that friday, you get a 5 day weekend.

I don't think corporate really cares about how you and your partner rotate as long as the store has coverage and you're both doing your job well (ie, not exhausted from working 90 hours a week).

 

[Got Em]

The two week schedule for my store is Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Weekend, Tuesday, Friday. You work 7 days out of 2 weeks, and if you take off on that friday, you get a 5 day weekend.

I don't think corporate really cares about how you and your partner rotate as long as the store has coverage and you're both doing your job well (ie, not exhausted from working 90 hours a week).

For 14 hour shifts at the CVS where I worked, it was 5 shifts one week then 2 shifts the next week. I think it was something like Thur-Mon or Tues-Wed.

I would love to do something like this where you only work 7 days out of 2 weeks. The only problem is I've only heard this happening at CVS. I'm not sure whether Walgreens' supervisors frown up this or what, but none of my friends at Walgreens said this was even possible, unless it was out in the boonies. One friend said he was doing straight 12 and 14s, then his supervisor told him to stop that go to only 8 hr shifts. I don't know, maybe it depends on the supervisor?

 

[Ackj]

I would love to do something like this where you only work 7 days out of 2 weeks. The only problem is I've only heard this happening at CVS. I'm not sure whether Walgreens' supervisors frown up this or what, but none of my friends at Walgreens said this was even possible, unless it was out in the boonies. One friend said he was doing straight 12 and 14s, then his supervisor told him to stop that go to only 8 hr shifts. I don't know, maybe it depends on the supervisor?

Well, when there's only 2 full time pharmacists assigned to a store, with no overlap, it's going to end up being 7 days out of 2 weeks, regardless of the hours.

 

[Got Em]

Well, when there's only 2 full time pharmacists assigned to a store, with no overlap, it's going to end up being 7 days out of 2 weeks, regardless of the hours.

Theres no overlap at CVS most of the time? We have overlap for 2 hours on weekdays, but not on weekends. We do have a part timer though.

 

[R xxx]

K-mart used to do 7 on 7 off, but not anymore.

You wouldn't survive doing 7 on at CVS day shift. Unless you're someone who just sits and verifies scripts. You can't possibly be at your best, not to mention dangerous, working that many days in a row at CVS. If you're a floater, maybe you can work something like that out?

 

[R xxx]

Theres no overlap at CVS most of the time? We have overlap for 2 hours on weekdays, but not on weekends. We do have a part timer though.

No overlaps because the pharmacist works 14 hours a day instead of 8 hours each. Why are you interested in this 7 on 7 off. Do you plan to go work elsewhere on your 7 days off?

 

[Old Timer]

No overlaps because the pharmacist works 14 hours a day instead of 8 hours each. Why are you interested in this 7 on 7 off. Do you plan to go work elsewhere on your 7 days off?

The number of pharmacist hours depends on the volume. There are stores that have overlap every weekday and some stores have three pharmacists on at a time. It all depends on the volume. The problem is when you have hard numbers. Let's say for example the number of scripts per week needed to add 20 pharmacist hours to a 2 pharmacist store is 2300. What about the guy doing 2275? It's the way life works.

 

[R xxx]

The problem is when you have hard numbers. Let's say for example the number of scripts per week needed to add 20 pharmacist hours to a 2 pharmacist store is 2300. What about the guy doing 2275? It's the way life works.

The problem is that most stores do around 2000 a week, not enough for a third pharmacist. CVS knows all too well about this and that's how they came up with the number they did. It's a business. They gotta make money.

 

[Old Timer]

The problem is that most stores do around 2000 a week, not enough for a third pharmacist. CVS knows all too well about this and that's how they came up with the number they did. It's a business. They gotta make money.

I made the numbers up. I have no idea what the real numbers are. I also disagree. Many stores are doing more than that. Some also only do 1200 per week or 1400.

 

[Old]

The number of pharmacist hours depends on the volume. There are stores that have overlap every weekday and some stores have three pharmacists on at a time. It all depends on the volume. The problem is when you have hard numbers. Let's say for example the number of scripts per week needed to add 20 pharmacist hours to a 2 pharmacist store is 2300. What about the guy doing 2275? It's the way life works.

just wondered if 2300 is the magic number for overlap. Know of stores doing 2600 to 2700 with no overlap. seems to be huge differences in districts and regions depending on the greed of the regional and district manager.

As a side note I did 14 days straight once. No overlap,volume a little bit lower,no partner and no floaters(didn't have anyone to fill in). Don't EVER do this many days. Not safe at all. totally fried at the end of it.

 

[Old Timer]

just wondered if 2300 is the magic number for overlap. Know of stores doing 2600 to 2700 with no overlap. seems to be huge differences in districts and regions depending on the greed of the regional and district manager.

As a side note I did 14 days straight once. No overlap,volume a little bit lower,no partner and no floaters(didn't have anyone to fill in). Don't EVER do this many days. Not safe at all. totally fried at the end of it.

I don't know what the real number is. I do know there is no store that should be doing 2700 per week with just 2 pharmacists. Unless it's a 24 hour store where you can off load work onto the night crew, that is insane.

 

[Old]

I don't know what the real number is. I do know there is no store that should be doing 2700 per week with just 2 pharmacists. Unless it's a 24 hour store where you can off load work onto the night crew, that is insane.

The magic number seems to be a floating carrot on a stick. Number seems to shift higher as some stores hit a certain level. its all about money which I realize is why they are in buisness. But, as i had said before, they have lost the concern for humans or human life for that matter. just $.

 

[Old Timer]

The magic number seems to be a floating carrot on a stick. Number seems to shift higher as some stores hit a certain level. its all about money which I realize is why they are in buisness. But, as i had said before, they have lost the concern for humans or human life for that matter. just $.

Trust me, the magic number does not float. Your field management may disregard the guidelines, but corporate has become much more rigid

 

[Old]

Trust me, the magic number does not float. Your field management may disregard the guidelines, but corporate has become much more rigid

Shouldn't float. good to hear corporate is becoming more rigid although if you don't know the magic number it is hard to complain about it. They need to remove DM and regional bonuses based on $'s saved on payroll vs budgeted payroll dollars. DM's a couple years ago was 28%. So, does he care if you have enough help or conditions are safe? His bonus was 28,000 for this alone a couple of years ago. 28K - at whose expense? I am sure the regionals bonus structured a similar way.

 

[Momus]

I know someone who work 7 on 7 off retail daytime but one partner quited the job after 2 years and DM changed the schedule to normal schedule because DM could not find anyone who to fill the position and the other person think it was a crappy schedule too and didn't want to work 7 on 7 off anymore ...

 

[Tinkerbell22]

just wondered if 2300 is the magic number for overlap. Know of stores doing 2600 to 2700 with no overlap. seems to be huge differences in districts and regions depending on the greed of the regional and district manager.

As a side note I did 14 days straight once. No overlap,volume a little bit lower,no partner and no floaters(didn't have anyone to fill in). Don't EVER do this many days. Not safe at all. totally fried at the end of it.

I don't know what the real number is. I do know there is no store that should be doing 2700 per week with just 2 pharmacists. Unless it's a 24 hour store where you can off load work onto the night crew, that is insane.

Yeah I've been at a store that did about 2800 with no overlap, but it was a 24 hour store with 3-4 RPh. It seemed much more slow than the 1600/week store I worked at that was not 24 hours.

 

[joetrisman]

We avg about 950-1k per day with overlap at a 24h store. However, on the weekends, we still pull about 700/day and have no overlap then. I'm an intern, so its not too bad imo, but I imagine with the responsibility of the rph, its quite stressful.

 

[Ackj]

K-mart used to do 7 on 7 off, but not anymore

Do you/did you work for Kmart? That's where I'm interning.

We avg about 950-1k per day with overlap at a 24h store. However, on the weekends, we still pull about 700/day and have no overlap then. I'm an intern, so its not too bad imo, but I imagine with the responsibility of the rph, its quite stressful.

700 rx with no overlap sounds rough. The overnight part can't be too busy, so I'd imagine the 6am-8pm rph gets ~500 rx.

 

[owlegrad]

700 rx with no overlap sounds rough. The overnight part can't be too busy, so I'd imagine the 6am-8pm rph gets ~500 rx.

You can let the overnight guy handle all the non-critical tasks though, so it is not so bad. Plus if you do a good job enrolling people in an automatic fill program you can let him handle those. Plus any prescriptions that the person is willing to pick up the next day can be filled overnight. It is extremely helpful to have an overnight pharmacist. A surprising amount of work can be dumped on them.

 

[PharmDstudent]

You can let the overnight guy handle all the non-critical tasks though, so it is not so bad. Plus if you do a good job enrolling people in an automatic fill program you can let him handle those. Plus any prescriptions that the person is willing to pick up the next day can be filled overnight. It is extremely helpful to have an overnight pharmacist. A surprising amount of work can be dumped on them.

My shelves are starting to look gorgeous 😍

 

[Momus]

I bet you are one of those people who vacuum the pharmacy floor everyday like a good house wife because you are bored lol

 

[PharmDstudent]

I bet you are one of those people who vacuum the pharmacy floor everyday like a good house wife because you are bored lol

I'm thinking about getting a Roomba to do that for me. They're on the 700 series now...

 

[THE MTL]

7 on and 7 off. Its exactly what it says you work 7 days and then you get 7 days off. Most jobs you work 7 10-hr shifts and they pay you for 80 hrs.

I met this pharmacist from Walgreens doing it. And she said while ur supposed to do only 70 hrs....you end up doing almost 75hrs cause of the morning rushes/pharmacists late/etc.

 

[xiphoid2010]

14 hour shifts should be illegal.

then all the residency programs would go away overnight.

 

[spacecowgirl]

then all the residency programs would go away overnight.

Pfft. I never worked a 14 hour day. Almost never more than 8 hours/day. I would not have considered doing a residency that required such crazy hours and especially not for resident pay.

 

[joetrisman]

Pfft. I never worked a 14 hour day. Almost never more than 8 hours/day. I would not have considered doing a residency that required such crazy hours and especially not for resident pay.

Any way to get a feeler on this sort of thing? Not exactly on their websites. Or did you just flat out ask during your interview process?

 

[joetrisman]

I'm thinking about getting a Roomba to do that for me. They're on the 700 series now...

Awesome idea! I think it'd die at our store after a day or two with all the pills that find their way to the floor though...

 

[spacecowgirl]

Any way to get a feeler on this sort of thing? Not exactly on their websites. Or did you just flat out ask during your interview process?

Ask at your interview. Ask current or former residents. It's a fair question.

 

[clachan3]

How about 8 on and 6 off? I know that you work for CVS and some of you guys do 12 hour shifts. If you work the weekends, wouldn't that be 8 days total in the 2 weeks? Have you heard of anybody doing this 8 days straight?

I might die if I work 12 hours day shifts 7 days in a row at CVS ...

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

I might die if I work 12 hours day shifts 7 days in a row at CVS ...

That is the devil's work.

 

[SoylentGreen]

I've heard of some people doing, not quite 7 on 7 off but pretty close at Walmart, in stores that are in the middle of nowhere and the pharmacists want to have uninterrupted to to go to their real lives elsewhere (Walmart has a policy that you can't work more than 6 days in a row so you can't quite do 7/7).