Anyone know policy for working at different pharmacy chains simulaneously?

[gradintern]

For example, I've been told that if you work at walgreens part-time, you could take a few shifts at different chains as long as you inform management, anyone know if this is indeed true for Walgreens, Target, CVS, Rite Aid etc?

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[rxlynn]

For example, I've been told that if you work at walgreens part-time, you could take a few shifts at different chains as long as you inform management, anyone know if this is indeed true for Walgreens, Target, CVS, Rite Aid etc?

I used to work for CVS, and this was not allowed. If management found out you were fired.

 

[CVSstinks]

As the above poster said... It's a conflict of interest. Your company will not allow it. 🙁

 

[gradintern]

Thanks guys, is that just for CVS or for all chains?

 

[WhYMee]

when i was looking into walgreens. they said I had to quit CVS before I could even set foot into walgreens.

 

[rph3664]

You can work at a chain and moonlight at an independent (or vice versa) but working for two or more chains at once is a definite conflict of interest.

 

[Sparda29]

I don't understand why people talk about this. Just don't tell anyone about it and do it. I don't believe that they can check to see if you still work somewhere.

 

[owlegrad]

I don't understand why people talk about this. Just don't tell anyone about it and do it. I don't believe that they can check to see if you still work somewhere.

Of course they can. All they have to do is call to verify employment, which HR can most certainly do. Of course if you leave previous employers blank they wouldn't know to call, so I guess you could go that route.

But how are you going to explain your scheduling needs to both companies, assuming you do not plan on being at two places at once? Realisticly I don't think you can keep both companies in the dark about having a job at the other. Besides the logistics of it, at some point you will be found out. Best to be honest up front.

 

[J ROD]

chain to chain...no

indepedent to chain...yes

 

[owlegrad]

You can work at a chain and moonlight at an independent (or vice versa) but working for two or more chains at once is a definite conflict of interest.

chain to chain...no

indepedent to chain...yes

Alright this confuses me. How is independent not a conflict of interest but a chain is?

 

[rph3664]

Owlegrad, that would depend on the individual employer's policy.

 

[crazybob]

Alright this confuses me. How is independent not a conflict of interest but a chain is?

At an independent, it's up to the PIC, and depending on the person, it may be allowed. Or it may not be allowed. But I think he's saying that a PIC at an independent is more likely to be ok with it than a PIC at a chain.

 

[owlegrad]

At an independent, it's up to the PIC, and depending on the person, it may be allowed. Or it may not be allowed. But I think he's saying that a PIC at an independent is more likely to be ok with it than a PIC at a chain.

But how can it be OK with the chain to work at an independant but not another chain? I get that at an independant the owner may or may not be alright with this, but there is still the matter of the chain.

 

[Sparda29]

But how can it be OK with the chain to work at an independant but not another chain? I get that at an independant the owner may or may not be alright with this, but there is still the matter of the chain.

Chains don't consider independents to be competition.

 

[J ROD]

Basically, that is correct.

I was told I could do some PT at an independent if I liked as long as I cleared it with the PDM.

I was told I could not work at another retail chain....

I think independents are not directly in their line of site.

With that saying, I still think that they rather you not work at an independent either.

 

[Doctor M]

Chains don't consider independents to be competition.

really? Cause last time I checked CVS was trying to buy at least 200 independents yearly to reduce competition...Every rx an independent fills is lost revenue for a chain...

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I don't think any of us can say definitively that EVERY chain pharmacy PIC or PDM would be fine with someone also working for an independent. I'd also wager than some independent pharmacy owners wouldn't want their staff moonlighting at Walgreens. So none of us can answer this question for the OP. He just needs to ask and see what happens.

The only thing I'd add is that the advice to do it and hope you won't get caught is (predictably) BAD advice. You will probably get caught and fired by one or both employers. You don't need that black mark against your name; pharmacy is a very small field.

 

[owlegrad]

I don't think any of us can say definitively that EVERY chain pharmacy PIC or PDM would be fine with someone also working for an independent. I'd also wager than some independent pharmacy owners wouldn't want their staff moonlighting at Walgreens. So none of us can answer this question for the OP. He just needs to ask and see what happens.

The only thing I'd add is that the advice to do it and hope you won't get caught is (predictably) BAD advice. You will probably get caught and fired by one or both employers. You don't need that black mark against your name; pharmacy is a very small field.

 

[J ROD]

I don't think any of us can say definitively that EVERY chain pharmacy PIC or PDM would be fine with someone also working for an independent. I'd also wager than some independent pharmacy owners wouldn't want their staff moonlighting at Walgreens. So none of us can answer this question for the OP. He just needs to ask and see what happens.

The only thing I'd add is that the advice to do it and hope you won't get caught is (predictably) BAD advice. You will probably get caught and fired by one or both employers. You don't need that black mark against your name; pharmacy is a very small field.

To summarize, when in doubt, check it out...

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I speaks teh trooth!!

 

[owlegrad]

I don't think any of us can say definitively that EVERY chain pharmacy PIC or PDM would be fine with someone also working for an independent. I'd also wager than some independent pharmacy owners wouldn't want their staff moonlighting at Walgreens. So none of us can answer this question for the OP. He just needs to ask and see what happens.

The only thing I'd add is that the advice to do it and hope you won't get caught is (predictably) BAD advice. You will probably get caught and fired by one or both employers. You don't need that black mark against your name; pharmacy is a very small field.

I really don't see how this is a PIC or PDM decision. Either it is against company policy or it is not. If there is a policy chain vs independent will not be specified in the policy. I am of course talking about this from the chain POV, independent it would be entirely up to the owner to set policy.

The only part about this that would fall on the PIC or PDM is that one or really both of your jobs are going to need to be flexible; the only way I can see this working is for you to have a basically set schedule at both places that does not conflict with the other. I am talking about long-term double employment of course not the occasional moonlighting where flexibility is not as much of an issue. Any changes to the regular schedule would have to be told to you well enough in advance so that the other place can accommodate the changes. Logistically it is a nightmare.

I have worked two jobs simultaneously for extended periods of time. It sucks. I really don't think it would be possible to do so "covertly". Both places are going to want to know why your scheduling requirements are so strict. I also doubt it is against any formal policy, although I could easily be wrong.

 

[crazybob]

pharmacy is a very small field.

I could not agree more. If you do something around classmates or preceptors, everyone else is gonna know.

I'm speaking from personal experience

And I'm sure that getting in trouble for working at two chains is gonna go around very very quickly.

 

[crazybob]

I have worked two jobs simultaneously for extended periods of time. It sucks. I really don't think it would be possible to do so "covertly". Both places are going to want to know why your scheduling requirements are so strict. I also doubt it is against any formal policy, although I could easily be wrong.

If your manager is friends with your other manager and they talk, it's gonna get you in trouble very quickly.

I hear about other people that my preceptor either works with, or has worked with in the past, and so most people are gonna know where you work.

 

[Sparda29]

really? Cause last time I checked CVS was trying to buy at least 200 independents yearly to reduce competition...Every rx an independent fills is lost revenue for a chain...

Yeah, when I first started at CVS, the pharmacy trainer said it was fine for me to work anywhere other than Walgreens. He said that CVS doesn't consider Costco, Rite-Aid, or Duane Reade or any of the supermarket pharmacies to be competition.

 

[owlegrad]

If your manager is friends with your other manager and they talk, it's gonna get you in trouble very quickly.

I hear about other people that my preceptor either works with, or has worked with in the past, and so most people are gonna know where you work.

Not to mention because we are talking about retail, people are going to see you at both. Customers, relatives and friends of your boss, etc. It will not be a secret long.

Just to be clear, I hope you were not directing that at me? All of my jobs always knew about each other. I don't think there is any practical way around it, nor would I want to keep it secret. It's hard enough with both places being on board, no need to make it harder.

 

[crazybob]

Not to mention because we are talking about retail, people are going to see you at both. Customers, relatives and friends of your boss, etc. It will not be a secret long.

Just to be clear, I hope you were not directing that at me? All of my jobs always knew about each other. I don't think there is any practical way around it, nor would I want to keep it secret. It's hard enough with both places being on board, no need to make it harder.

I wasn't directing it at anyone. I was just using the word "you" like people do when they casually talk about things being done.

You would have to be good at things like living a double life successfully But we all know things get messy when the person gets caught.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Yeah, when I first started at CVS, the pharmacy trainer said it was fine for me to work anywhere other than Walgreens. He said that CVS doesn't consider Costco, Rite-Aid, or Duane Reade or any of the supermarket pharmacies to be competition.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that's NOT official CVS policy.

 

[crazybob]

He said that CVS doesn't consider Costco, Rite-Aid, or Duane Reade or any of the supermarket pharmacies to be competition.

I've heard otherwise from a recruiter-type person.

 

[owlegrad]

I wasn't directing it at anyone. I was just using the word "you" like people do when they casually talk about things being done.

You would have to be good at things like living a double life successfully But we all know things get messy when the person gets caught.

I figured that's what you (bob) meant, but then I thought maybe you (again - bob) were trying to give me a friendly warning.

How about those people that have two separate families where neither one knows about the other? Crazy. I am sure if any of them stumbled into this thread they would think the trouble of secret moonlighting is trivial compared to what they do!

 

[J ROD]

Yeah, when I first started at CVS, the pharmacy trainer said it was fine for me to work anywhere other than Walgreens. He said that CVS doesn't consider Costco, Rite-Aid, or Duane Reade or any of the supermarket pharmacies to be competition.

I would not follow this.....

 

[crazybob]

I figured that's what you (bob) meant, but then I thought maybe you (again - bob) were trying to give me a friendly warning.

How about those people that have two separate families where neither one knows about the other? Crazy. I am sure if any of them stumbled into this thread they would think the trouble of secret moonlighting is trivial compared to what they do!

That reminded me of Peter's other family from Family Guy, and I tried to find a video for it, but I couldn't find a link that would work.

There's a funny story I could tell, but I don't want to go into too much detail. It was back in high school

 

[owlegrad]

That reminded me of Peter's other family from Family Guy, and I tried to find a video for it, but I couldn't find a link that would work.

There's a funny story I could tell, but I don't want to go into too much detail. It was back in high school

If the story is about how you had two secret families, you must tell it!

Speaking of clips that can't be found online, does anyone remember the episode of the Simpsons called "To Surviel With Love"? Chief Wiggum explains the ABC's of surveillance. It is a gag about overusing acronyms. Reminded me of CVS. I really wish I could find a clip. Hilarious.

 

[crazybob]

If the story is about how you had two secret families, you must tell it!

Speaking of clips that can't be found online, does anyone remember the episode of the Simpsons called "To Surviel With Love"? Chief Wiggum explains the ABC's of surveillance. It is a gag about overusing acronyms. Reminded me of CVS. I really wish I could find a clip. Hilarious.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/143446/the-simpsons-to-surveil-with-love It's 21 minutes 31 seconds.

And even if I did have two secret families, I wouldn't want to reveal it

 

[owlegrad]

http://www.hulu.com/watch/143446/the-simpsons-to-surveil-with-love It's 21 minutes 31 seconds.

And even if I did have two secret families, I wouldn't want to reveal it

Yeah but that expires in 8 hours. But thanks for trying to help.

 

[gradintern]

Could this possibly be a state-specific/labor law issue? Because I've heard of several people in California working multiple places like it's no problem