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Recycled

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I know this has happened to many at my company, but I finally got laid off. I know everyone thinks being cream of the crop will save them, but I was promoted less than 4 months ago, and had already saved 100,000 in my new role. The company just decided anyone with my particular title did not need to be Pharm.D. I have devoted almost a decade here, so am feeling pretty lost, and not equipped to move to a new practice venue.

Guess I should take a lesson from "House Of Cards"....why work somewhere more than 2 years?
 
Mind telling us what did you do?
 
Hey, I'm sorry. That f*cking sucks. This just means you were meant to go somewhere better.
 
on a positive note you're now entitled to federal + state unemployment benefits? with all your savings use this time to find something profitable that u like to do.
 
Express Scripts? They go through pharmacists like popcorn. Hey there is always a ****ty retail gig out there if you need the money.
 
" Majority of the states provide average benefits in the range of 300 to 500 dollars."
http://fileunemployment.org/unemployment-benefits-comparison-by-state

State-Unemployment-Benefits-Comparison5.jpg


If you've gotta a backbreaking mortgage and student debt then there's probably not much of a emergency cash reserve. It's not clear whether the OP saved a 100 large personally or as part of his job managed a 100k reduction in company expenses. If personally you'd be surprised how fast a 100k can burn especially in a zero interest rate environment. You should always know your burn rate just in case this situation happens to you. For example:

Mortgage......... 1500
Student debt... 1000
property tax...... 300
home insurance 50
auto insurance 100
health insurance 200
utilities 200
food 400
______________
3750/mo expenses -1600 Unemployment benefit= 2150 burn rate

And the expenses are figuring for just a single person. Not included were gas, auto maintenance, dental, state income tax, federal income tax and other pain-in-the-arse crap that happens at the worst time.
 
I'm sorry to hear that. Seriously, pharmacy is turning into The Hunger Games. 🙁 We're all fighting to survive. Out of the hundreds of pharmacists I know, probably half of them (including me!) have been laid off at some point in their careers. My company just had a round of cuts that went all the way up the management ladder, so no one is safe. I guess you just gotta stay motivated so you can land a new job, and watch your back...
 
I don't think some people realize how difficult it is out there until you lose your job. I periodically sample the job market by searching for job postings and by keeping in contact with pharmacists looking for work. And it is not pretty.

The only field that is still expanding is academia but I predict within the next 4 years, they too will see a correction. Tuition is outrageous. The "clinical" jobs that academia are training their students for have not and will probably not materialize. While we fight for "provider status", nurses are already taking over these jobs including MTM. In the mean time, some of us think we are too good to dispense. That is the bread and butter of this profession.
 
sorry to hear that OP. But think of it as a forced opportunity. Everyone likes the safety of the status quo and comfort zone, but the nature of life is it's constantly changing. If thing have to change then take it as a challenge to find something even better.
 
Yeah, I didn't write that very clearly. I recently saved the company 100k. Thankfully I don't have much in the way of debt though and I do have some savings...glad I paid off the student loans.


The Cutest Ponytail said:
"



If you've gotta a backbreaking mortgage and student debt then there's probably not much of a emergency cash reserve. It's not clear whether the OP saved a 100 large personally or as part of his job managed a 100k reduction in company expenses.
Click to expand...
 
I left Caremark a year ago. I really liked my job and the schedule. I left because I knew I'd eventually get laid-off. They were doing everything they could to replace pharmacists with technicians and in some cases people off the street with zero pharmacy experience.

It's not an act or a coincidence every time you call the Caremark help desk you get someone who is a complete ***** and has no idea what they are doing. They really don't!
 
MountainPharmD said:
I left Caremark a year ago. I really liked my job and the schedule. I left because I knew I'd eventually get laid-off. They were doing everything they could to replace pharmacists with technicians and in some cases people off the street with zero pharmacy experience.

It's not an act or a coincidence every time you call the Caremark help desk you get someone who is a complete ***** and has no idea what they are doing. They really don't!
Click to expand...

What did they try to do to replace the pharmacists?
 
I am sorry to hear that Recycled. I know how it felt that moment they told you, I was in a similar situation. There is nothing anyone can say to make it feel better. File for unemployment benefits as soon as you can. It is a very simple process and you should be able to get it. The benefits really helped me with my confidence and outlook. Just be honest when you file the reason for termination because your employer will be able to see what you wrote if they want to appeal your benefits.
 
Thanks for the warning. I had a supervisor at a PBM try to talk me into going with them. I think sticking with the Brick and Mortar pharmacies might make me ultimately spent but better than being laid off I guess. Best wishes.
 
Stinks, doesn't it? I agree with everyone else here: file for unemployment and pursue the path that is right for you.
 
"Almost a decade" is a good run for you. It is only week 1. Just don't let the "I am not equipped to move to a new practice venue" part get in a way of job hunting.
 
Thank you all for the great advice and support. I have never been fired before (or even received a bad review), so trying hard to keep my confidence up. Will use the free time to brush back up on my clinical skills and will definitely take everyone's advice to file for benefits as soon as possible.

M0df said:
"Almost a decade" is a good run for you. It is only week 1. Just don't let the "I am not equipped to move to a new practice venue" part get in a way of job hunting.
Click to expand...
 
Also think about your health insurance, which is of course now mandatory under the ACA. You can get 'COBRA', which is continuing your employer plan, but you will have to pay the full cost, which is usually around $450/month per person. So it may be cheaper to get an ObamaCare plan if you can get a subsidy based on your total annual income.
 
It's unlikely that a pharmacist, even one with children, would qualify for Obamacare subsidies. There are short-term policies for people without pre-existing conditions that can cost as little as $100 a month, and I have a high-deductible policy for which I pay about $175 a month even though I'm north of 50.

The OP should talk to the agent who handles their car, etc. insurance and see what that company has to offer. You might be surprised.
 
Guess I should take a lesson from "House Of Cards"....why work somewhere more than 2 years?
Click to expand...

At will employment, for both you and your employer. Only stay at a place longer than 2 years, if you think its in your best interest to do so, because guaranteed, your employer will only keep you more than 2 years, if they think its in their best interest to do so.

But everything you did for your past employer, you can write up in your resume, and hopefully you will find a new, acceptable, job soon.
 
just food for thoughts. company decisions for the job title not requiring your degree/qualification usually takes a very long thought process. it doesn't happen overnights. i'm thinking whoever promoted you probably know about what's to come and intentionally put you in that position waiting to be laid off. if you can prove that they intentionally try to screw you, its grounds for lawsuit. since it all happened within a few months, im suspecting foul play. talk to a lawyer.
 
Can anyone give me a hint as to why pharmacy jobs are being cut. Isn't pharma untouchable with all the need/marketing for drugs
 
Chimichica said:
Can anyone give me a hint as to why pharmacy jobs are being cut. Isn't pharma untouchable with all the need/marketing for drugs
Click to expand...

Pharmacy isn't pharma, pretty much. CVS doesn't care if Pfizer is making five billion a year on some new drug, they care about cutting as many $100k dispensing positions as possible.
 
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