Between a rock and a hard place

[Pharmgrlnxdor]

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Man I hate office politics. I always seem to get caught up into other people's situations as an innocent bystander.

My situation. I am a pharmacy intern at one of the big chains that shall remain nameless. The District Manager had a meeting recently with all of his interns (about 12) and gave us each 12 hours per week to be used for a summer project. The project is to go out and solicit immunization clinics.

I am a nontrad and came from a corporate background that included sales so this is something that I know I can do well. To add to that is the fact that I am particularly passionate about immunizations. I know that I can help people in the pharmacy but the feeling I get when I think about conveying the knowledge I have gained regarding the benefits of immunizations is really awesome. It makes all the crappy pharmacy school stress worth it. The times I have helped someone understand how getting a flu shot has the potential to protect someone they love (very young, elderly, immunocompromised) I have just gotten a great feeling all over. I know my corporate masters are making a profit...I get it...but to me this is a win win situation. A chance for corporate goals and community health goals to coalesce for once. So you can see when this project was announced I felt and still feel really gung ho.

However, the PIC at my store would prefer I use the hours working at the pharmacy. I have even been told that I should try a bit and then say I couldn't get any clinics arranged...which is lying. So, I should basically lie to the guy who makes the decisions about hiring, and this in a really crappy economy. I tried to convey to her that being put in the situation of being told what to do by him and then not doing it would be well, not a very wise choice. And then there is the fact that I really do want to have a crack at it. If given half a chance I bet I could set up more clinics than any of my fellow interns...I am after all a competitive pharmacy student. : )

I am documenting my time spent. In the past three days, I have spent over 12 hours (my choice as I wanted to get a good start) contacting nursing homes and communities in the area regarding health fairs. I think given a few more weeks I could probably nail down anywhere from 2 to 6 health fairs and have a crack at 100 to 300 immunizations. I am doing this by pounding the pavement (the very hot pavement) in a suit, heels, nylons, etc. the usual professional garb and am getting a very good reception so far.

"So I stop by the pharmacy today after four hours of making contacts and the PIC says something to the effect of I don't know how to track these hours. I don't want to say I don't trust you (WTF??) but I just need to know how to deal with these hours." The bottom line is she wants me there using the hours for the pharmacy. Which is fine, I guess, I mean in the end it all pays the same but what do I say when I am asked how many flu clinics I have arranged? The interns are supposed to meet in another week or so and I will have nothing to show for my banked hours.

I think that I have figured out that she wants me to use the hours in her pharmacy and nothing else and to heck with what the DM wants or what I want. So now I feel totally trapped. If I say or do anything to contradict what she wants...I know she will be pissed off and view it as me being an upstart and challenging her authority. Which I am not trying to do. At the same time, I don't want her to communicate to the DM negative information (and false too) about my actions during this week...since I have been working my tush off. I mean sticking up for myself and communicating factual information (my time sheet, the contacts I have made, etc.) should not be viewed as challenging authority but I am experienced enough to know that it often is viewed that way by those that need to exert their control over others.

So does anyone have any suggestions on the best course of action to keep myself off the **** list with well, .... everyone. The PIC the DM, all of them?

Also, I contacted my partner (we were paired up at the original meeting) and his pharmacist isn't giving him a hard time about how he is spending his hours as long as he documents his time.

Actual advice is appreciated on how to handle this situation.

Signed,
Too pissed to proof read

 

[pezdispenser]

You should write short e-mails to your DM and cc the PIC. Just something to keep the DM updated like "Hi, in the past three days, I have spent over 12 hours contacting nursing homes and communities in the area regarding health fairs. I think given a few more weeks I could probably nail down anywhere from 2 to 6 health fairs and have a crack at 100 to 300 immunizations!"

Corporate managers love that stuff... I think... Though I'm not a manager, so take with lots of salt... 🙄

This covers you in case your PIC tries to talk trash about you to the DM to retaliate. The DM is the person you need to suck up to anyway, not the PIC. When you're a pharmacist, you don't have much to do with other pharmacists besides your store partner.

 

[Its Z]

Your PIC is an idiot.

I hope you have prepared a "travel/work" log of your activities including who you called, when, and who you spoke to. Sign this affidavit and hand it to her. Tell her "I'm sorry you don't have a full trust in my professionalism today but in near future, I hope I can earn your full trust as a colleague." Or something to that effect.

Send your DM a confidential email outlining your activities and kindly tell him/her that your PIC wants the hours spent at the pharmacy.

 

[Pharmgrlnxdor]

Today when I went in and she gave me the line about not trusting me she mentioned that she is meeting with DM on Friday and will discuss it with him. I have a feeling she will bad mouth me to get her way, as in, what is this chick doing that warrants her being paid 12 hours this week. So as she has said this to me, I am afraid to take any action (like sending the DM any info) as she will view it as trying to undermine her attempt to get her way. I have been caught in the cross hairs of office politics before and always have ended up with a chalk outline for my efforts. I am just trying to not step in the ****. So do you think in light of the meeting I should still forward the info (my log) to the DM?

 

[chrispharm]

I would email your DM, I work in the corporate environment and if you dont email him and give him an update pretty much like what (Its Z) said they will only get the other side which is incorrect. I would take the initiative and let him know what you have been up to.

 

[Pharmgrlnxdor]

Okay, I will craft a carefully worded email with a log attached of the 28 places I have gone to in three days. I have times, dates, names, addresses, etc. Thank you all for the advice. It is hard to think straight when you are angry.

 

[Its Z]

It's unfortunate but your relationship with the PIC is damaged.

Pre-emptively contact the DM to explain the situation before he meets with your PIC.

 

[BenJammin]

Jeez, if I were the PIC I'd ask for you to be replaced. No excuses for what's been going on. None.

 

[Rx MPLS]

Jeez, if I were the PIC I'd ask for you to be replaced. No excuses for what's been going on. None.

I'm not sure why the PIC should replace this person; they sound like they're pursuing this wholeheartedly and still getting their other work done.

 

[StevePerry]

Man I hate office politics. I always seem to get caught up into other people's situations as an innocent bystander.

My situation. I am a pharmacy intern at one of the big chains that shall remain nameless. The District Manager had a meeting recently with all of his interns (about 12) and gave us each 12 hours per week to be used for a summer project. The project is to go out and solicit immunization clinics.

I am a nontrad and came from a corporate background that included sales so this is something that I know I can do well. To add to that is the fact that I am particularly passionate about immunizations. I know that I can help people in the pharmacy but the feeling I get when I think about conveying the knowledge I have gained regarding the benefits of immunizations is really awesome. It makes all the crappy pharmacy school stress worth it. The times I have helped someone understand how getting a flu shot has the potential to protect someone they love (very young, elderly, immunocompromised) I have just gotten a great feeling all over. I know my corporate masters are making a profit...I get it...but to me this is a win win situation. A chance for corporate goals and community health goals to coalesce for once. So you can see when this project was announced I felt and still feel really gung ho.

However, the PIC at my store would prefer I use the hours working at the pharmacy. I have even been told that I should try a bit and then say I couldn't get any clinics arranged...which is lying. So, I should basically lie to the guy who makes the decisions about hiring, and this in a really crappy economy. I tried to convey to her that being put in the situation of being told what to do by him and then not doing it would be well, not a very wise choice. And then there is the fact that I really do want to have a crack at it. If given half a chance I bet I could set up more clinics than any of my fellow interns...I am after all a competitive pharmacy student. : )

I am documenting my time spent. In the past three days, I have spent over 12 hours (my choice as I wanted to get a good start) contacting nursing homes and communities in the area regarding health fairs. I think given a few more weeks I could probably nail down anywhere from 2 to 6 health fairs and have a crack at 100 to 300 immunizations. I am doing this by pounding the pavement (the very hot pavement) in a suit, heels, nylons, etc. the usual professional garb and am getting a very good reception so far.

"So I stop by the pharmacy today after four hours of making contacts and the PIC says something to the effect of I don't know how to track these hours. I don't want to say I don't trust you (WTF??) but I just need to know how to deal with these hours." The bottom line is she wants me there using the hours for the pharmacy. Which is fine, I guess, I mean in the end it all pays the same but what do I say when I am asked how many flu clinics I have arranged? The interns are supposed to meet in another week or so and I will have nothing to show for my banked hours.

I think that I have figured out that she wants me to use the hours in her pharmacy and nothing else and to heck with what the DM wants or what I want. So now I feel totally trapped. If I say or do anything to contradict what she wants...I know she will be pissed off and view it as me being an upstart and challenging her authority. Which I am not trying to do. At the same time, I don't want her to communicate to the DM negative information (and false too) about my actions during this week...since I have been working my tush off. I mean sticking up for myself and communicating factual information (my time sheet, the contacts I have made, etc.) should not be viewed as challenging authority but I am experienced enough to know that it often is viewed that way by those that need to exert their control over others.

So does anyone have any suggestions on the best course of action to keep myself off the **** list with well, .... everyone. The PIC the DM, all of them?

Also, I contacted my partner (we were paired up at the original meeting) and his pharmacist isn't giving him a hard time about how he is spending his hours as long as he documents his time.

Actual advice is appreciated on how to handle this situation.

Signed,
Too pissed to proof read

Listen to Z...

 

[Pharmgrlnxdor]

Okay, I sent the email stating my progress with an attached log of time spent (it was four pages long) with all the particulars about my contacts. I also stated the concern I had about being asked by the PIC to utilize the time in a different way than I had been directed by the DM. I made it clear that I was fine using the time in any way that was deemed appropriate but that I needed both the DM and PIC to agree on how that time was to be spent and communicate it to me so there was no confusion. Now I just wait for the fallout, and hope there isn't any.

 

[Hello2000]

Who takes seniority? The DM or PIC, I think therein lies your answer. I think the the DM will have a little interview without candy with the PIC if he/she realises their authority is being undermined.

I think you need to toughen up and tell the PIC that you have been directed by the DM to carry out this project and that is exactly what you are going to do.

 

[Pharmgrlnxdor]

Who takes seniority? The DM or PIC, I think therein lies your answer. I think the the DM will have a little interview without candy with the PIC if he/she realises their authority is being undermined.

I think you need to toughen up and tell the PIC that you have been directed by the DM to carry out this project and that is exactly what you are going to do.

Of course the DM has the authority. But we like to eat and pay the bills in my household. : ) The PIC has the ability to shrink my hours down to nearly nothing. Fortunately, I have received hours from other locations all summer long and they keep calling me because I show up when agreed, with a good attitude, and work hard. I will do exactly as you say (confirm with PIC what DM wants me to do) once I hear back from the DM about how my hours are to be spent once he and PIC speak. Realize that I am a single mom and I live hand to mouth....barely.... right now. Without the hours at this job I don't want to even think what would happen to us. And that is why I am walking on egg shells right now. It is good to be brave but I have a child to feed so I need to be cautious since that is my top priority.

 

[owlegrad]

I have been caught between intern coordinator, DM, and PIC in the past in regards to specific expectations. I always please the PIC first, then I ask for some support with pleasing the DM - after all, I want hours now and a job in the future. If the PIC is happy it should be easy to please the DM. My PIC has always helped me in regards to pleasing the DM, but if push came to shove I would want the PIC to have my back. Doing anything to risk that would be unwise IMO. The intern coordinator is a distant third for me.

In your specific case I would ask the PIC how much time he/she is willing to give to complete the DM's little pet project and do your best with that. If the number is too low/none, just let your DM know the PIC needs your support in the store rather than pounding pavement. Suggest that you would like to work additional hours to get the project done and done well. Everyone loves a team player and I don't see how anyone could fault you in that scenario.

 

[BidingMyTime]

You did the right thing, e-mailing the DM. When back in ancient times when I was an intern, the DM was responsible for the hiring & hours alotted interns, not the PIC. Maybe its different in your situation, if the PIC has the power to shrink yours hours. Obviously, you want to try to please them both, but if this isn't possible, I would go with pleasing the higher authority, your DM.