I am fed up with my techs. They call in sick left and right. We have started writing them up if too frequent. But every other day it's the same problem. All of a sudown I am 1 tech short in the already staff shorted schedule! How do you guys handle this?
how do you man age techs calling in sick?
- Thread starter mangopulp
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 15,455
- Reaction score
- 6,733
Welcome to the American labor market. They get paid ****, most have to work part time, and get no benefits. Why should they give a flying fudge about your pharmacy? Our commitment to them is pretty flimsy...and that's a two way street. I know a guy that's a Costco pharmacist...their techs get $18/hr. They sure as hell show up on time, every day, and with a great work ethic.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2012
- Messages
- 71
- Reaction score
- 36
We had a tech once who called out every single time her kid was sick. Management reminded her that part of her work contract (hospital outpatient) that she signed willingly stated that she was responsible for secondary and tertiary childcare options. She cried and threw a tantrum loud enough for the whole department to hear. The last straw was when she wanted spring break off and was denied because there were already approved vacations for other techs that week. She called out for the entire week on Sunday night when the pharmacy was closed and then refused to answer her cell. When she showed up all cheerful and tan the following week she was fired on the spot...and then drummed up a discrimination lawsuit. So make sure that whatever disciplinary action is taken is WELL documented. You don't want to get burned.
Total agreement.
If the sick calls are over the top, they need to be written up. But if it is 2-3 times a year and it is 1-2 days each time, then you will be working by yourself by firing everyone. The only possible way to deal with it is to over hire and keep over hiring if people leave because they are not getting the hours. You know exactly who you can count on and if they truly want the hours, they will get the hours.
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2005
- Messages
- 1,174
- Reaction score
- 776
This x1000.
The reason that RPh's call off only when on the brink of death and CPhTs call off all the damn time is the $$$$. If you paid the CPhTs $50/hour they would should up too. But when WAG or CVS pays $9/hour, when they get fired they can just get another menial job.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2008
- Messages
- 4,191
- Reaction score
- 2,524
I call off because I wanna take a day off or have a dentist doing 30 mins teeth cleaning "sick" LOL. I am at work or at home I am still getting paid the same rate with the sick pay.
Hell, I am not giving my company any dimes on left over sick time coz it does not get paid out to me. Sick pay only get paid out after like 5 years accumulation with my company and chit. I am thinking about leaving the company in the next 5 years, so I never accumulate any sick time. If you are fired/let go, all that sick time is also gone and never get paid out. I am sure as corp doesn't give a rat ass about their employees, so why should I?
Hell, I am not giving my company any dimes on left over sick time coz it does not get paid out to me. Sick pay only get paid out after like 5 years accumulation with my company and chit. I am thinking about leaving the company in the next 5 years, so I never accumulate any sick time. If you are fired/let go, all that sick time is also gone and never get paid out. I am sure as corp doesn't give a rat ass about their employees, so why should I?
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2008
- Messages
- 9,847
- Reaction score
- 1,843
At the independents where I work, they never call out unless it's an absolute emergency. They are paid well here and get vacations and health insurance if they work at least 20 hours/week. However, we only hire techs who can speak 2 or more languages.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,368
- Reaction score
- 1,004
Low pay isn't an excuse to abuse your employer, when you got hired you agreed to the pay and proposed schedule, feeling like you're underpaid doesn't make it right.
I'd require a physician's note every-time they attempt to call out sick and allow for a handful of personal sick days per year for which they wouldn't be counted as a no show. After those limited personal sick days are used, if they don't get a physician's note then they get written up as a no show because "I'm sick" without validation after they have used some sick days shouldn't be permitted.
I'd require a physician's note every-time they attempt to call out sick and allow for a handful of personal sick days per year for which they wouldn't be counted as a no show. After those limited personal sick days are used, if they don't get a physician's note then they get written up as a no show because "I'm sick" without validation after they have used some sick days shouldn't be permitted.
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2011
- Messages
- 1,083
- Reaction score
- 635
Low pay is ABSOLUTELY a reason to abuse your employer. What you get paid is equivalent to what you are valued, plain and simple. My independent, techs get paid $20/hr, both on the books and in cash. CVS, techs were starting at $8/hr, and working up to $9/hr. There was a tech working with us for 7 years, she was still making only $12/hr.
You will get paid more to bag groceries your first day at Shop Rite than working as a pharmacy tech at CVS after completing training and working for a year and dealing with all the BS. So sad, but so true.
Digsbe, lets say tech has a kid, and the kid is sick. It would cost more to find a sitter than stay at home and take care of the kid yourself. There is a break even point. Not to mention the physical part of running around all day at work. Also, there is a difference of full time, part time, benefits etc. Oh and sometimes you even get more out of state benefits than from working part time.
The pay is not a secret when someone is hired. By agreeing to work for someone you agree to the wage. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing that the pay is low/high for techs depending on the place. I'm just saying, flaking out is not kind to coworkers.
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2011
- Messages
- 1,083
- Reaction score
- 635
Yea .. in a normal world.
Here you have people who are agreeing to work for $9/hr because they are shown that the pharmacy tech job is great. The ability to help people, work at stations, solve problems, etc. What CVS or Walgreens don't show you is the a** raping you really receive when you work as a tech short staffed in one of their stores. What you signed up for is not really what you are doing. They abuse you. The pay is not a secret, but the job description was a complete lie and bullsh**. You agree to work for CVS, but you didn't agree to get raped in the butt every 10 minutes.
And yea, flaking out is not kind to coworkers. Thanks for clearing that up for us.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,368
- Reaction score
- 1,004
I'm not saying people should never be able to call out, I'm just saying people shouldn't abuse it and low pay isn't an excuse to not live up to employment expectations. I think it just speaks to someone's work ethic and character when they call out "sick" just to get a day off which results in harming their coworkers who are now even more short staffed that day. I think if pay is too low find a different job, if I was an independent I'd pay my techs well because I want to train them and retain them, but when I was a tech making $7.50 6 years ago the only time I ever called out was when my grandmother was passing away and the hospital had called us in to say our final goodbyes on a Saturday when I was scheduled to work. I just think there is no excuse behind calling out in order to get a free day off and as an employer I wouldn't tolerate it, it harms your place of business, other coworkers and sets a standard or precedence for others as well.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2004
- Messages
- 10,413
- Reaction score
- 4,050
I joke that if I ever get admitted, just give me a laptop and I'll work from the bed.
Except I'm not actually joking.
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2008
- Messages
- 200
- Reaction score
- 138
I don't agree with this sentiment at all. In some countries, grown men work their butts off all day in labor intensive work and get paid $3 for the entire day. Techs get paid $10.65 an hour at the minimum and do not do labor intensive work (except when they put Away deliveries.)
Every time I read about conditions in other countries, I stop feeling bad for my techs and manage them accordingly.
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2008
- Messages
- 200
- Reaction score
- 138
This. You're technically not allowed to cut someone's hours because they call out sick or whatever, but the beauty of it is you don't have to do it for that reason. You can perfectly rationalize it and say payroll is tight, you don't have the hours and you're cutting shifts left and right. If they're full time, don't schedule them a minute over 30 hours a week. The minute they use their cell phone at work, verbally warn them and then write them up. You have to fight fire with fire. Sooner or later they will realize that it's not worth messing with you as you will make their lives a living hell. They'll either quit or be a good employee.
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2005
- Messages
- 84
- Reaction score
- 15
Whether or not the pay is great or not, you have a professional commitment to your job and your coworker. If the job is horrible, tech can quit instead of disrespecting their coworkers on a regular basis by making them working harder than they are really are. Some tech both hospital (great benefits and pension) and retail environment I know abuse calling out sick. The hospital tech who get better overall compensation package actually abuse this more.
I'm not siding with horrible practice at retail pharmacy, but tech shouldn't have total disregard and disrespect their pharmacists, coworkers, and patient care when they do it on a regular basis.
I'm not siding with horrible practice at retail pharmacy, but tech shouldn't have total disregard and disrespect their pharmacists, coworkers, and patient care when they do it on a regular basis.
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2007
- Messages
- 2,950
- Reaction score
- 320
How much a job pay is irrelevant to whether an employee should do his job. many of us worked as paperboy, cashiers, grocery baggers, ect, and did not fake illness or refuse to do our job. Again, coming from an Asian background, I see it as a common weakness in America and has a lot to do with entitlement mentality/lacking personal responsibility. It should not be tolerated.
My management style is simple, 4 step process.
I will clearly communicate to you what the job expectations are. I'll provide training until you are competent. I provide feedback on performance and listen to yours in return. I provide support when you encounter the unexpected (and being actually sick falls under here).
Also, I don't fire people, people fire themselves. I am just putting in the paperwork. Employees that renege on their duties, abuse the system and co-workers will be met with the progressive disciplinary process. Again, I don't fire people, they fire themselves through it.
Anyway, to OP. Some call-in are legitimate, and as staff size increases, probability of even legitimate call-ins becomes a near certainty. Something you can do is to create an rotating on-call system, which many hospitals use.
My management style is simple, 4 step process.
I will clearly communicate to you what the job expectations are. I'll provide training until you are competent. I provide feedback on performance and listen to yours in return. I provide support when you encounter the unexpected (and being actually sick falls under here).
Also, I don't fire people, people fire themselves. I am just putting in the paperwork. Employees that renege on their duties, abuse the system and co-workers will be met with the progressive disciplinary process. Again, I don't fire people, they fire themselves through it.
Anyway, to OP. Some call-in are legitimate, and as staff size increases, probability of even legitimate call-ins becomes a near certainty. Something you can do is to create an rotating on-call system, which many hospitals use.
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2009
- Messages
- 3,723
- Reaction score
- 3,502
In those countries cost of living is probably close to $3 per day. People making minimum wage in NYC can't afford the worst apartment there and will probably lose their job if they opt to live on the streets instead.
I never thought this was a good policy, despite how commonplace it is (although I do like your idea of a limited pool of "note-free" days). If I had bad Chinese food and my bowels are acting as if they're filled with Golytely, I am going to sit in the bathroom, not go to the doctor. If I have a migraine, why do I have to go see my doctor? I need a dark quiet place. Worst of all, if I'm sick and go to the doctor, they'll probably write me an rx, and I'll have to come in to work anyway.
I was confused too. I just realized op meant manage
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2013
- Messages
- 166
- Reaction score
- 109
WVUPharm2007 hits the nail on the head. Fast food restaurants literally pay better than Wags/CVS.. And have better staffing. It's very common at CVS for me to see techs working off the clock to get everything done. I don't understand why anyone chooses to work like that (for 10+ years). The Rx supervisor in my home district loves me because I'm basically the only person that will actually come in to work on my days off. Over the summer, my store hired three new techs, two of whom were fired in the first month because they didn't do training/didn't show up. When I was volunteering in a hospital, on the other hand, I heard one instance of a tech being out sick. These chains are absolutely ridiculous
Not a problem there wise guy.
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2010
- Messages
- 380
- Reaction score
- 34
I agree no doubt tech pay at CVS and WAGS and even Walmart arenot the best- it's still not an excuse to call and sick and not give 100 percent- if you don't like the pay and conditions- quit- plain and simple.
If you use poor pay as a reason why techs call in then the reverse should be true- Wags and CVS pay pharmacist nice salaries- does that mean they can dump a whole lot of **** on the pharmacist because they pay us well?
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2010
- Messages
- 380
- Reaction score
- 34
Your logic is flawed what if corporate thought like you thought(and they may) and said:"well pharmacist get paid a nice salary so let's just give them a lot of work and stress to compensate their huge salaries...." So if techs call in sick because of bad working conditions- that's no better than corporate treating pharmacist like **** because they pay us well.
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2014
- Messages
- 154
- Reaction score
- 61
Disagree. Every job I had I never abused attendance or anything else. And that goes back to the day when I delivered papers and worked fast food. Showed up on time and did what my job required of me.
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2014
- Messages
- 154
- Reaction score
- 61
Agree. Im guessing like most retail attendance policies you have a set # of days before one is written up/coached etc for it. And some push it. I don't even think twice anymore about counting someone absent. I think in most cases all you get now is funeral, jury duty, and maybe a few other things that can be excused.
- Joined
- May 27, 2013
- Messages
- 1,397
- Reaction score
- 805
Cvs hired a new grad 2014 for 53 an hour in Pittsburg area. Seems low, no? I got 58 Midwest.
Hmmmm.. I'm sure they'll be calling in sick weekly at that rate!
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2009
- Messages
- 3,723
- Reaction score
- 3,502
If that wasn't true, they wouldn't have any pharmacists left.
- Joined
- May 16, 2009
- Messages
- 1,456
- Reaction score
- 1,239
That's pretty much hitting the lotto for Pittsburgh
- Joined
- May 27, 2013
- Messages
- 1,397
- Reaction score
- 805
You've seen lower in Pittsburg?
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 15,455
- Reaction score
- 6,733
Cost of living is much higher in America. That $10/hour after healthcare, car insurance, rent, etc isn't that much.
And why stop there. There are North Koreans that would love to have what's his name's job up there. News flash. This is America. It used to be the land of opportunity. Where a man knew that if he followed the rules and worked hard, society would make sure he could make ends meet.
Its not like that anymore. The wealth class broke the contract, so why should labor be their pawns? I still get paid well, so I have no problem being worked hard. Honest work for honest pay. Techs do honest work for a pile of ****.
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 15,455
- Reaction score
- 6,733
The hospital that's down near like Belle Vernon and Century III offered me $36/hour back in 2011. I accidentally laughed under my breath. UPMC started you at $38. I was making $41.88 with 2 years experience.
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 15,455
- Reaction score
- 6,733
That's why there are a billion poor as **** Chinese. You work hard so some other guy can makes money off your labor. People are seriously brainwashed. Again, I get paid a good living, so I work with no complaints.
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2007
- Messages
- 2,950
- Reaction score
- 320
What about Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea? Why pick a country that only had a decent government for the last 30 years, during which by the way went from as poor as any African ant hill to the 2nd largest economy in the world. Meanwhile you wonder why America is losing jobs to abroad and suffers anemic growth.
And your response is just a diversionary tactic. Pay scale is not an excuse for not doing your job. Don't like how much a job that doesn't even need a junior high diploma pays? Study up, or don't take the job, or feel free to quit at any time. Ones feeling entitled to fake sickness or not come in can fire themselves through the disciplinary process.
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 2, 2005
- Messages
- 2,027
- Reaction score
- 749
xiphoid, you obviously know the standard of living on those countries/cities you mentioned. They all work hard and are compensated appropriately. Working hard for inadequate pay is a suckers game. I work hard now but I'm getting paid a dollar a minute. When I was working at subway in college making $8.50 and hour? I did the least amount of work possible because I was not valued as an employee
Counties like China are gaining on us because they are literally using slave labor to get ahead.
Counties like China are gaining on us because they are literally using slave labor to get ahead.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2008
- Messages
- 4,191
- Reaction score
- 2,524
No one knows you have a headache, stomach flu, migraine, not feeling well but yourself. If my employer requested a note when I call in sick, I just tell them I got diarrhea. Since when having a diarrhea requires a Dr visit? What effing note? They can try to fire me all they want but it ain't going to be because of sick calls.
Normally in a year, I will always have 2 dentist visit, 1 optometrist visit - so 3 free days right there for 30 mins appt time. Then, I'd add those misc "sick" time probably 4-5 more days in a year. Also a good strategy is to say something like "I am not feeling well the day before for whatever reason." Next day you call in sick, no one bat an eye. So about 7 days off extra for me. Ain't nobody got my sick time for chit that's for sure >_>;!
Unethical ? Who the fu3k cares...? Shove your moral high ground up your a55.
Normally in a year, I will always have 2 dentist visit, 1 optometrist visit - so 3 free days right there for 30 mins appt time. Then, I'd add those misc "sick" time probably 4-5 more days in a year. Also a good strategy is to say something like "I am not feeling well the day before for whatever reason." Next day you call in sick, no one bat an eye. So about 7 days off extra for me. Ain't nobody got my sick time for chit that's for sure >_>;!
Unethical ? Who the fu3k cares...? Shove your moral high ground up your a55.
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2007
- Messages
- 2,950
- Reaction score
- 320
All those countries have similar living stands as us, and pay roughly the same as us for unskilled labor, but people actually do there jobs, that's the cultural differences. Asians tent to say, if I don't succeed its my fault, instead of many here who thinks its because somebody else didn't give me xyz.
Also Is the pay not adequate for a job that basically requires as much qualification as fast food? So the reason why fast food pay minimum wage is why retail tech pay is so low. Don't like it? The work and study your way up. Slacking on the job and faking sickness, not only won't get you better pay, it'll get you fired.
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2003
- Messages
- 8,860
- Reaction score
- 3,421
The cost for tech is not the salary. It is the health benefits. I am sure if you count health benefits for them and their family especially when they are not healthy, it really adds up for any company.
I worked as a pharmacy clerk when I graduated from college. I was making the minimum wage and that is with a college education!
Life is never "fair". You just have to roll with the punches.
I worked as a pharmacy clerk when I graduated from college. I was making the minimum wage and that is with a college education!
Life is never "fair". You just have to roll with the punches.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2009
- Messages
- 3,723
- Reaction score
- 3,502
If you call a coworker and get your shift covered, minimal issue. If you leave people shortstaffed, I guarantee you they care.No one knows you have a headache, stomach flu, migraine, not feeling well but yourself. If my employer requested a note when I call in sick, I just tell them I got diarrhea. Since when having a diarrhea requires a Dr visit? What effing note? They can try to fire me all they want but it ain't going to be because of sick calls.
Normally in a year, I will always have 2 dentist visit, 1 optometrist visit - so 3 free days right there for 30 mins appt time. Then, I'd add those misc "sick" time probably 4-5 more days in a year. Also a good strategy is to say something like "I am not feeling well the day before for whatever reason." Next day you call in sick, no one bat an eye. So about 7 days off extra for me. Ain't nobody got my sick time for chit that's for sure >_>;!
Unethical ? Who the fu3k cares...? Shove your moral high ground up your a55.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2004
- Messages
- 10,413
- Reaction score
- 4,050
This makes me beg the question, does a $66,500 difference in annual salary get explained away by lower cost of living/income taxes in western PA vs. a high cost place like CA?
How about a $39,500 difference?
Question is not just for you, but for all the "OMG _____ state is so expensive, y'all are dumb living there" people on the forum.
(Numbers used: $72/hr vs. $42/hr, 80 hours per pay period, 26 pay periods, no bonuses. $72 rate is the prevailing clinical/hospital RPh rate in Northern Calif. by my quasi-scientific methodology, conservative to compare to your $42/hr figure from 2011. The 2nd number is based on a listing I saw in 2012 for UCSD Medical Center @ $61/hr, closest analog to UPMC in Southern California which has typically lower rates of pay vs. Northern CA).
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 30, 2013
- Messages
- 336
- Reaction score
- 85
no price you can pay to live in the good parts of california, imho. =) speaking of which, i havent been to the beach in two weeks, TWO weeks, i better go next week. i was too busy enjoying myself in the socal desert last weekend.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2004
- Messages
- 10,413
- Reaction score
- 4,050
no price you can pay to live in the good parts of california, imho. =) speaking of which, i havent been to the beach in two weeks, TWO weeks, i better go next week. i was too busy enjoying myself in the socal desert last weekend.
Haha, you sound like me sometimes.
Okay I like real numbers, so here are my calculations in progress (assumes single, no other deductions for simplicity).
Pennsylvania @ $42/hr yields:
Federal tax bill of $15,163
State tax bill of $2,682
Total tax bill: $17,845
California @ $72/hr yields:
Federal tax bill of $32,267
State tax bill of $11,437
Total tax bill: $47,430
Difference between the two: $29,585
That leaves us ($66,500-$29,585) = $36,915/yr left to contend with increased costs of living.
I'll look at median house prices in my next post!
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2004
- Messages
- 10,413
- Reaction score
- 4,050
Okay next item up for consideration...housing!
We're pitting one of the cheapest places to live in the country vs. one of the most expensive.
Pittsburgh Metro Area, PA Median Sales Price (11/2014): $131,545
Down payment (20%): $26,309
Mortgage balance: $105,236
Monthly P&I (4% 30 year fixed): $502.41
San Francisco Metro Area, CA Median Sales Price (11/2014): $642,500
Down payment (20%): $128,500
Mortgage balance: $514,000
Monthly P&I (4% 30 year fixed): $2453.91
Monthly difference ($2,453.91 -$502.41) = $1951.50/mo x 12 months = $23,418
That now leaves us $36,915 - $23,418 = $13,497/yr ($1124/mo) left to contend with the remaining increased costs of living.
I won't calculate further since we've looked at taxes and housing, and because further calculations would start to look at minutiae (gardening in CA vs. PA in the winter, car registration fees, increased heating and cooling costs in PA vs. coastal CA, etc...).
So let's call it a wash?
We're pitting one of the cheapest places to live in the country vs. one of the most expensive.
Pittsburgh Metro Area, PA Median Sales Price (11/2014): $131,545
Down payment (20%): $26,309
Mortgage balance: $105,236
Monthly P&I (4% 30 year fixed): $502.41
San Francisco Metro Area, CA Median Sales Price (11/2014): $642,500
Down payment (20%): $128,500
Mortgage balance: $514,000
Monthly P&I (4% 30 year fixed): $2453.91
Monthly difference ($2,453.91 -$502.41) = $1951.50/mo x 12 months = $23,418
That now leaves us $36,915 - $23,418 = $13,497/yr ($1124/mo) left to contend with the remaining increased costs of living.
I won't calculate further since we've looked at taxes and housing, and because further calculations would start to look at minutiae (gardening in CA vs. PA in the winter, car registration fees, increased heating and cooling costs in PA vs. coastal CA, etc...).
So let's call it a wash?
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2004
- Messages
- 10,413
- Reaction score
- 4,050
I'm tapped out, you calculate it, but I take it that person will live like a king (a friend of mine just moved to Pittsburgh with that salary and then some)
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 15,455
- Reaction score
- 6,733
I know a woman, late 30s, lives in my hometown. Makes $62/hr in retail(last I checked..back in 2009, might be more now). Bought a gorgeous 4br, 4ba 3500 sq foot home with granite everything, 3 stall garage, the most amazing master bathroom imaginable, a 1500 sq foot living area with exotic hardwood floors...$250,000. Same I paid for my sensible 3br, 2ba home.
She married a recently retired Army officer that checked out after 20 years who is also a fitness nut. So she lives in a mansion and has a hard bodied house husband that cooks/cleans while drawing a decent little pension with free healthcare. Good for her, I say.
