need some input on pharm tech job

[pharmgrl5]

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I'm going to try to be gentle with how I put this as I am a bit paranoid that someone who knows who I'm talking about will come across this and I'll somehow lose my job. Ok so it's not that bad but I still hate to essentially talk crap on my manager.

Here's the deal... I was recently hired onto a brand new store that is not yet open. It's opening very very soon. In the meanwhile since I was hired I've been doing general training and have since been able to meet one of the other techs who was hired. We have 3 techs in total. We've been discussing the training and situation and are concerned about it.

Firstly, it being a brand new store where all three techs are unexperienced we thought we'd get some proper training. However we are coming up on grand opening very very soon and thus far the only training that's occurred has been really informal. Today I was there for 7 hours and spent basically 6 hours reshifting the bottles around. The day before my coworker had taken care of the stock and had alphabetized them and put them on the shelves. Our manager however apparently wanted them a bit more spaced out so they looked even. So that's what I did all day. However I wasn't given proper instructions really on how to do that and how the layout was. So I messed it all up and spent hours redoing the entire stock setup. 😱 Guess it was no big deal as I did eventually fix it and the manager never knew how messed up it got for awhile.

Ok at this point though there hasn't been any training on how to work the computer system, how to run insurance, how to fill, even basic stuff like how to work the drive up window. I'm totally freaked that we are going to just be tossed in there without enough training. And both of us have been mentioning the training to her each time we see her. I know she's busy and has a lot going on since she's opening this brand new pharmacy but I'm seriously worried.

Second issue... when we were hired we were told we'd get as many hours as we wanted, up to 40/week. With only 3 techs for the store I assumed that it meant we'd be in the pharmacy for those hours. After talking with the manager though I find out that there will be times of the day when there will not be a tech on shift. 😕 It will literally be one pharmacist alone. I guess I always thought that a tech was an important aid to the pharmacist and how could one not be needed? I was told that we would each get 15 hours/week and then any additional hours would be spend elsewhere in the store. I'm really hoping that as the pharmacy gets more scripts to fill that the hours will increase but it truly seems to both of us that the pharmacists (2 of them) feel they don't need techs much. 😕

Third and final issue... I totally respect our manager. I mean how can you not? We all know what it takes to get to a position like that. But she acts almost like she's better than us and we need to not forget that. I'm cringing inside even saying that as she truly is friendly and has never been unkind or anything but it's just this general "air" that both of us have noticed. Like we aren't important and aren't needed and we're on a different level than her. I totally understand that on one point, but really I feel almost kind of shoved out of the way. Like an outsider instead of a team member. Is this a common issue to have with the pharmacists you guys work with? How do you handle this issue?

And yes some of these issues have been repeatedly discussed with the manager, I'm just curious to see if this is common and if anyone has any opinions or thoughts on this all.

 

[mrblah]

Welcome to retail, I always tell people to get out of there as soon as they get their letter of rec.

Its definitely a mistake putting 3 new techs into setting up a new store. Each chain wants things set up a certain way, and while they don't tell you, they expect you to know these things through experience, so its not your fault, nor are they going to hold it against you.

It is common practice to move shelving around. Get use to it, you will do it everytime a big order comes in, a audit comes in, upgrade machinery, adding a new drug spot, etc. Like you said, no big deal.

As for your hours, all hours are budgeted based on number of scripts. From my observation, stores which do less than 100 a day usually don't get a tech, and if they do, its usually for what you described, just to do general things around the store until volume picked up. You should consider yourself lucky though that they hired you before the volume picked up. We call these stores "club med" because stores take time to build up volume, and until then, its stare at the wall for most of the day. Also, a good pharmacist can clear 100 scripts easily. So don't be offended that they don't need you to work at your full capacity, because one day they will need your extra pair of hands (usually around 150 they will start needing you fulltime). You have a choice, either work 40 hours in and out of the pharmacy or work only 15 hours in the pharmacy, and pick up hours at another store. Those are your two options. I rather work at two stores than work the front store.

As for pharm. managers, there are two types of managers, those that treat you like equals and those that treat you as a servant, and it depends on how much pride you have, and how much you are willing to tolerate. Some techs don't mind being treated like a servant, I do. If you find a manager that treats you like an equal, you stick with them like glue, until you either change jobs or become a pharmacist. Luckily, most older pharmacists treat you like equals. Its the young managers who think they are the shiznit. Also, watch for managing styles. Avoid micromanagers like the plague. They will make your life a living hell (i.e. clean bathrooms, vacuum the floor 3 times a day, dust the shelves 3 times a day, re-do the shelf labels once a day, and other random stupid crap mainly just to order you around).

My advice to you, don't play company politics unless you know what you are doing, and people won't change just because you don't like working with them. If you don't like something, just transfer out of the store, or ask to be placed somewhere else. There are millions of excuses you can use. Piss off the wrong people, and you haven't been there long enough, they will go out of the way to fire you. The reason I say this is that I've found that many tech trainers, senior techs, other pharmacists know each other on a first name basis, drink tea, play golf, name their children after each other, just to promote themselves. Be really careful who you complain to.