The WORST scheduler EVER

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

pearbeary18

Full Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2007
Messages
55
Reaction score
0
I work for a grocery chain with the absolute worst scheduler ever. She is constantly double-booking people, scheduling them when she had previously approved their vacation, and floaters only get their schedule maybe 2 weeks out. But then again, she's constantly changing the schedule so it's basically like you're on-call 24/7. It takes her forever to respond back to emails/calls/texts unless the regional manager is cc'ed. And this is all just the tip of the iceberg.

The company itself is pretty great, but this is really frustrating. It seems as though people have complained about her, but nothing gets done. They don't like to fire people, and I don't want her fired but she should be placed into a job she can actually handle. The RM is a pharmacist too so I'm not sure why he isn't more sympathetic. I heard he isn't her direct boss so I'm not sure what he can do.

Being a floater is so difficult when I feel like I have no life outside of work. Anybody have any suggestions on what to do? Or, at least how I can deal with all this stress?
 
CVS also gives their floaters short notice regarding their schedules. Usually 1-3 weeks. Also the locations where you work can greatly vary and can get changed around. It's frustrating but there are also benefits to being a floater.
 
CVS also gives their floaters short notice regarding their schedules. Usually 1-3 weeks. Also the locations where you work can greatly vary and can get changed around. It's frustrating but there are also benefits to being a floater.
It will be different now with MySchedule that CVS rolled out recently.
 
One benefit I liked of floating is less concern regarding the metrics. Also liked meeting the different employees at the different stores.
 
What are said benefits?
when I worked as a PRN floater (which is different) - per the DM "Your goal is make sure the store doesn't burn down".
You don't have the responsibility as someone who is there full time, none of the stupid reports that the chains make you do, it is really easy to pass off the drug seekers and just say no as they often reply "I will come back tomorrow when XXX is here". Fine with me!

You also could pick and choose your stores, you know the good ones, you know the bad ones.


As far as your schedule, that effing sucks, I knew a floater in Chicago who would wake up and call the office at 7 am and then they would tell him what store to go to - real pain in the ass when you might be an hour drive away.
 
when I worked as a PRN floater (which is different) - per the DM "Your goal is make sure the store doesn't burn down".
You don't have the responsibility as someone who is there full time, none of the stupid reports that the chains make you do, it is really easy to pass off the drug seekers and just say no as they often reply "I will come back tomorrow when XXX is here". Fine with me!

You also could pick and choose your stores, you know the good ones, you know the bad ones.


As far as your schedule, that effing sucks, I knew a floater in Chicago who would wake up and call the office at 7 am and then they would tell him what store to go to - real pain in the ass when you might be an hour drive away.

So you're expected to call in every day early in the morning to find out where you are going?
 
What are said benefits?

As others have said, less responsibility. Plus if a pharmacy is poorly managed/has bad technicians, one can be glad they aren't stuck there and will be somewhere else the next day.
 
So you're expected to call in every day early in the morning to find out where you are going?
that is what he told he, and that was a time where there was still a significant shortage
 
when I worked as a PRN floater (which is different) - per the DM "Your goal is make sure the store doesn't burn down".
You don't have the responsibility as someone who is there full time, none of the stupid reports that the chains make you do, it is really easy to pass off the drug seekers and just say no as they often reply "I will come back tomorrow when XXX is here". Fine with me!

You also could pick and choose your stores, you know the good ones, you know the bad ones.
With CVS, true floaters rarely got to pick their stores. Only PICs or staff pharmacist, who wanted to pick up additional shifts, were allowed to pick stores that needed coverage. Then floaters got the shifts that were left over. It's usually a bad sign for your store if your pharmacist goes on vacation/maternity leave and only floaters come in to cover.

Of course there may be exceptions, you may get to pick your stores if you're a floater and on really good terms with the scheduler.
 
With CVS, true floaters rarely got to pick their stores. Only PICs or staff pharmacist, who wanted to pick up additional shifts, were allowed to pick stores that needed coverage. Then floaters got the shifts that were left over. It's usually a bad sign for your store if your pharmacist goes on vacation/maternity leave and only floaters come in to cover.

Of course there may be exceptions, you may get to pick your stores if you're a floater and on really good terms with the scheduler.
I was a prn floater - so, yes, I did pick and choose.
 
Top