CVS PIC --> Walmart PDM

[rickyroxy]

Worth jumping ship to Walmart manager from CVS manager?

Been with CVS for 11 years in south Florida. Currently at store doing 2500-3000 (90 as 3). Pretty good techs and store running well where I can get off on time and can manage to have 30 min. lunch in pharmacy (with occasional interruptions). Making $155K base on 43 hours/ and with benefits, it brings up to ~ 190K. No overlaps, store has 82 pharmacist hours and 170-200 tech hours based on season. 3 week vacation which will increase to 4 at 15 years. 5% 401K match. Bonus up to 10K but never received anything more that 5-6K.

Just completed phone interview with Walmart. Store they have opening at is doing 1800-2300 with no drive thru. Manager and Staff does 40 hours each and 1 floating staff pharmacist for couple of days ovelap. Starting 4 week vacation. 6% 401K match after 1 year. Bonus potential of 24K. Haven't negotiated pay yet. and have second interview next week.

By looking up all walmart pharmacist experience on SDN, looks like grass is not that greener on the other side and I should not switch if its pay cut. Starting over new has its own down sides. Horrible techs, incompetent staff pharmacist can make like miserable.

So, looking for opinion from current, past Walmart managers/pharmacists.

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[indianatransplant]

I was an intern at Walmart before I graduated and went on to hospital life. Grocery > wag/cvs at all times, in my experience. Walmart has some BS as they all do but it really wasn't bad and the department was left alone. Perhaps it would be worse starting off as you'll be operating at a significant loss for some time in all likelihood. Are you happy where you are? Yes, then stay. No, I'd say this is a great opportunity assuming pay is close to what you have now.

 

[Sine Cura]

If you give me the store # (can PM) I can look at the metrics

Ask for an extra $1.50-$2 and see what happens. Remember the annual raise is (was?) $0.50 for solid performer, $1.00 for EE, $1.50 for "role model." No one gets EE except a token 1-2 pharmacists who are usually the MHWD teacher's pets

Also I have seen jack all for next year's annual bonus (they come out with a document every year describing it) but I haven't been looking very hard, so don't be surprised if it goes away or is cut drastically

 

[quickpic007]

When will you retire? How long do you want to do this job?

WM is much easier, Ive been to both.
WM is layoff central though. CVS easier to pickup extra shifts.

If you are towards the end of the career WM for sure. If not, I grind at CVS a bit longer to stash cash.

WM has been having quite a bit of vacancies...doubt this is your last chance for pic there.

 

[rickyroxy]

When will you retire? How long do you want to do this job?

WM is much easier, Ive been to both.
WM is layoff central though. CVS easier to pickup extra shifts.

If you are towards the end of the career WM for sure. If not, I grind at CVS a bit longer to stash cash.

WM has been having quite a bit of vacancies...doubt this is your last chance for pic there.

Didn't think about retirement yet. May be 10-15 years to go. Couple of PICs from my district switched to Walmart. One of my friend went all the way to Tampa selling house and everything here. He was at really bad CVS though and looking for escape. I don't really want to move and this Walmart is like 40 minutes from drive. Haven't seen much opening in this area either so might not get opportunity again.

On the other hand, CVS will dominate retail for long time and they are in fact making pharmacist life easier ( I know hard to believe) but they are improving system and removing road blocks much faster than in the past. Its hard to get fired and So far have had decent DL's who don't really bother much as long as you are out of radar.

 

[rickyroxy]

If you give me the store # (can PM) I can look at the metrics

Ask for an extra $1.50-$2 and see what happens. Remember the annual raise is (was?) $0.50 for solid performer, $1.00 for EE, $1.50 for "role model." No one gets EE except a token 1-2 pharmacists who are usually the MHWD teacher's pets

Also I have seen jack all for next year's annual bonus (they come out with a document every year describing it) but I haven't been looking very hard, so don't be surprised if it goes away or is cut drastically

PM'd you.

I am thinking same to ask for #2 raise. $0.5 is still better than CVS since I am "red lined" and didn't get any raise this year.

 

[quickpic007]

Didn't think about retirement yet. May be 10-15 years to go. Couple of PICs from my district switched to Walmart. One of my friend went all the way to Tampa selling house and everything here. He was at really bad CVS though and looking for escape. I don't really want to move and this Walmart is like 40 minutes from drive. Haven't seen much opening in this area either so might not get opportunity again.

On the other hand, CVS will dominate retail for long time and they are in fact making pharmacist life easier ( I know hard to believe) but they are improving system and removing road blocks much faster than in the past. Its hard to get fired and So far have had decent DL's who don't really bother much as long as you are out of radar.

then, to me, it is a coin toss. if you can thrive at cvs you will do great at wm.
DL always change at both companies so not a big issue.
My main concern would be the layoff though. Rug pulled out from a lot of us the last go around last year. Unsettling when you hear new grads taking 12 less per hour at wm (prob same at cvs.)

 

[wagrxm2000]

Sounds like you have a good current store.

Techs are all that matters, I'd stay.

 

[VictorOfHungerGames]

Worth jumping ship to Walmart manager from CVS manager?

Been with CVS for 11 years in south Florida. Currently at store doing 2500-3000 (90 as 3). Pretty good techs and store running well where I can get off on time and can manage to have 30 min. lunch in pharmacy (with occasional interruptions). Making $155K base on 43 hours/ and with benefits, it brings up to ~ 190K. No overlaps, store has 82 pharmacist hours and 170-200 tech hours based on season. 3 week vacation which will increase to 4 at 15 years. 5% 401K match. Bonus up to 10K but never received anything more that 5-6K.

Just completed phone interview with Walmart. Store they have opening at is doing 1800-2300 with no drive thru. Manager and Staff does 40 hours each and 1 floating staff pharmacist for couple of days ovelap. Starting 4 week vacation. 6% 401K match after 1 year. Bonus potential of 24K. Haven't negotiated pay yet. and have second interview next week.

By looking up all walmart pharmacist experience on SDN, looks like grass is not that greener on the other side and I should not switch if its pay cut. Starting over new has its own down sides. Horrible techs, incompetent staff pharmacist can make like miserable.

So, looking for opinion from current, past Walmart managers/pharmacists.

Been at CVS and Walmart, two rotations at Wally world, I would stay at CVS with resume you got. Looks like you got your $#!t together at CVS. I hated CVS and I think CVS is the worst company in the world but if you've been there for that long and you got good thing going, then why move?

 

[CardinalGirl210]

Walmart is easier to work at; less organized, but you are treated well and bonus is better. Less stressful. This was a no brainer. I left CVS in Target after 1 year to join Walmart. No regrets as my former colleagues complain about their lives every week and how the company treats them unfairly.

 

[Sine Cura]

All else being equal Walmart > CVS esp since you get more PTO (168 to start out for FT 40/week). If you got a slow CVS like 1k/week in a decent area it's prob not that bad though

 

[Sabril]

3000-how many actual scripts do you dispense a day (I know you said 90 counted as 3)?

I have a friend in Chicago who works for WM for about as long as you do for CVS. She thinks her hours will be cut because the volume has been going down.

 

[Chrish]

WM is over-staffed.. There are literally days where I have sent techs home because we had more people than we needed.

Having said that, ****ty store at WM is still a ****ty store. There are stores where I wouldn’t go even if they pay me $100 an hour flat.

 

[Sine Cura]

Is it really over-staffed? Not according to straight-up bitches crying about too much work with double coverage in California.

90% of walmart staff pharmacists would die at 3k+ CVS one-RPH (not bull**** 30->90 but raw sold #). If they can't clear 100 data entry in 8 hours how can they clear 300 data entry in 12 hours as the only RPH. 50% of the remaining 10% came from CVS having experienced 3k+ (most luckily not 4k-9k a week) and know WM is better despite the excessive minutiae

As far as ****ty Walmarts go work at a negative NPS store (not mine. I floated to one before though) and get back to me. LMAO

 

[Chrish]

I mean sure cvs is the worst place to be in retail but then think about not counseling patients on new scripts (required by law but no one seems to do it at cvs), no BS companion, or opioid stewardship, or BS resolutions, or wellness events every other week, and far more relaxed error reporting system. One Cvs rph told me sometimes their patients would get the prescription with the label that says “1 qd” on it! Now imagine that happening at WM!

Sometimes I feel I would take less help but not deal with all this BS at WM.

 

[Sine Cura]

And with SCRT you play along with the Just Culture safety-first charade because you can't coach anyone for gross negligence because InTeNtIoNs MaTtEr ToO or being illiterate

 

[Xenophylia]

It's still retail, so in essence you'd just be moving to a cooler part of hell. Probably not worth the pay cut.

 

[Sine Cura]

You all noticed that they didn't actually mention the actual FY2021 bonus numbers/ranges 16 weeks into the fiscal year. Good days of 20k bonus (or even more if your store sold > 140k non-controls a year) for doing nothing but treading water are prob over

 

[rickyroxy]

So I visited the Walmart for which I interviewed just to get a feel of it. Didn't get good vibes. Homeless wondering everywhere inside and outside. Overcrowded and long lines to go inside. Sketchy people in parking lot. Sheriffs deputies guarding entrance. I have a couple of super centers close to my house but nothing like this one.

Are most of super centers like this or just area specific? Does that affect anyway in pharmacy or pharmacy is just in its own bubble.

 

[Chrish]

You all noticed that they didn't actually mention the actual FY2021 bonus numbers/ranges 16 weeks into the fiscal year. Good days of 20k bonus (or even more if your store sold > 140k non-controls a year) for doing nothing but treading water are prob over

WM bonus is pretty ridiculous tbh. It’s just a matter of time before it’s slashed.

Sort of like they used to pay $50 extra for working sundays back in the day.

 

[Sine Cura]

So I visited the Walmart for which I interviewed just to get a feel of it. Didn't get good vibes. Homeless wondering everywhere inside and outside. Overcrowded and long lines to go inside. Sketchy people in parking lot. Sheriffs deputies guarding entrance. I have a couple of super centers close to my house but nothing like this one.

Are most of super centers like this or just area specific? Does that affect anyway in pharmacy or pharmacy is just in its own bubble.

We get quite a few homeless people spamming the ED for urgent care and primary care

I bet Sam Walton's ideal Walmart would be in the lily-white Midwest not these EBT magnets in "diverse" areas

 

[CardinalGirl210]

You all noticed that they didn't actually mention the actual FY2021 bonus numbers/ranges 16 weeks into the fiscal year. Good days of 20k bonus (or even more if your store sold > 140k non-controls a year) for doing nothing but treading water are prob over

They don’t release the numbers until May every year. If you work for Spark, you would know that they base the first quarter of bonus on the previous year and the last 3 quarters under the new metrics. It’s really a non-issue for me. My colleagues at CVS get MAYBE $600 bonus after slaving away all year long IF they are lucky.


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[Sine Cura]

They don’t release the numbers until May every year. If you work for Spark, you would know that they base the first quarter of bonus on the previous year and the last 3 quarters under the new metrics. It’s really a non-issue for me. My colleagues at CVS get MAYBE $600 bonus after slaving away all year long IF they are lucky.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN

The 1-pager in the email doesn't show the actual bonus figures. I'm not referring to the metrics (which are the same as last year apparently). Like I said don't be surprised if it's cut by 50% or worse

They absolutely do not base the bonus directly on the prior year's results, "first quarter" or otherwise. It's a FY2021 bonus so why would it be based on FY2020.

 

[farmadiazepine]

I would not leave one chain retail pharmacy for another chain retail pharmacy. Stick with CVS, the obvious leader in chain retail pharmacy, as much as I hate to say that. Walmart had a lot of layoffs in the past few years from what I read, and it's only a matter of time before they cut even more hours and pharmacists. Stick with what you have, which how you explained it seems to be a very good gig.

I would only leave if I got paid at least $30,000 more a year, not including benefits.

 

[rickyroxy]

So, I had second phone interview with 2 MHWDs. Typical corporate bull**** questions how to improve sales and service in pharmacy. You just wonder how sincere of them to just read of the script provided to them and then expect genuine answer. But as always answered to the script provided. Apparently one of the MHWD were to came from CVS. So when chance came to ask questions from myside, I could not resist to ask her what made her switch from CVS to walmart. I thought it was kind of funny and courageous from me to ask that question. I could sense from her answer that I cought her off guard. None the less she answered to the truth of being exhausted of CVS's metrics and push to the wall. And I just used her answer to justify why I am applying for the position. To this moment I have not decided one way or the other. Part of me wants to explore the blind side with surprises just to make it interesting at this juncture of life, where any excitement is worth looking for. Either this or buy convertible has same return value for me. I don't really care much.

 

[Sine Cura]

I'm somewhat surprised they doing phone interviews after the initial screen. Not expected to show up in person later on? You can learn a lot from body language and face-to-face interaction you can't get over the phone or even video chat

 

[rickyroxy]

I'm somewhat surprised they doing phone interviews after the initial screen. Not expected to show up in person later on? You can learn a lot from body language and face-to-face interaction you can't get over the phone or even video chat

True, but covid effect. It was zoom conference but no video which surprised me too.

 

[quickpic007]

So, I had second phone interview with 2 MHWDs. Typical corporate bull**** questions how to improve sales and service in pharmacy. You just wonder how sincere of them to just read of the script provided to them and then expect genuine answer. But as always answered to the script provided. Apparently one of the MHWD were to came from CVS. So when chance came to ask questions from myside, I could not resist to ask her what made her switch from CVS to walmart. I thought it was kind of funny and courageous from me to ask that question. I could sense from her answer that I cought her off guard. None the less she answered to the truth of being exhausted of CVS's metrics and push to the wall. And I just used her answer to justify why I am applying for the position. To this moment I have not decided one way or the other. Part of me wants to explore the blind side with surprises just to make it interesting at this juncture of life, where any excitement is worth looking for. Either this or buy convertible has same return value for me. I don't really care much.

ha I came to walmart to explore the greatness of the last easy national chain at a career juncture. I came from cvs too. Although I've been cashing much easier checks I wonder if i should have explored hosptial or something else instead.
Be confident in their offer as its 50 cent annual raises for most of us here.

 

[Sine Cura]

True, but covid effect. It was zoom conference but no video which surprised me too.

Apparently tech interviews still need to be in person.

Rules for thee but not for me

ha I came to walmart to explore the greatness of the last easy national chain at a career juncture. I came from cvs too. Although I've been cashing much easier checks I wonder if i should have explored hosptial or something else instead.
Be confident in their offer as its 50 cent annual raises for most of us here.

Losing out on 2% annual but "be grateful you still have a job."

I'd rather they do musical chairs finally on CA pharmacists if only they kept 2% but started new pharmacists much lower accordingly