things are def changing

[imcallingcorp]

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many confirmed pharmacist firings in my region and just found out that new hires getting offered $6 less hourly than when i was hired few years back. hmmm coincidence i think not?

 

[2012PharmDgrad]

many confirmed pharmacist firings in my region and just found out that new hires getting offered $6 less hourly than when i was hired few years back. hmmm coincidence i think not?

Hmmmm...can you say what company is offering $6 less p/hr? If not, is it retail or hospital? I am not surprised this is happening though, it is to be expected.

 

[imcallingcorp]

retail 1 of the big 3

 

[gqpharmacist]

what city/area?

 

[MindOverMatter]

 

[imcallingcorp]

northeast, don't really care to be too specific. I know the topic is nothing new, I have been reading the posts on here for some time and knew that this was inevitable in my area just a matter of when. No panic starter here, just felt like sharing more of the obvious. And I am sure that this will be followed up posts from those that are non - retail and will say thats why you should do residency etc... but lets be real this is bad news for all. supply>demand = poor student with large debt will take your job for a lot less and smile

 

[SHC1984]

retail 1 of the big 3

CVS, Walgreens, what is the third one again?

 

[BenJammin]

You're from the northeast, big guy. Come join the rest of us in america where we don't bow to corporate pressure like a child.

 

[imcallingcorp]

CVS, Walgreens, what is the third one again?

lol i know rite aid is "distant" 3rd and stock hovers at $1 but with close to 5000 stores i think they qualify

 

[pezdispenser]

I'm in the southeast and I've seen this happen as well.

 

[iamaninja]

More and more Pharmacy schools opening. Its the easiest way to make money, open a pharmacy school charge whatever you want and people will line up to get in. Big chain pharmacies don't donate money and push for more schools because they are nice guys, they are increasing supply. With increased access to healthcare and a big cohort of aging Americans + many women in pharmacy (who tend to work part time or leave the profession at a higher rate then men) are on the demand side and may help pharmacists but new schools popping up more and more is there to combat all issues in our favor.

 

[MountainPharmD]

lol i know rite aid is "distant" 3rd and stock hovers at $1 but with close to 5000 stores i think they qualify

The other day I was debating...buy a 20 oz. Dr. Pepper or a share of Rite Aid stock. The Dr. Pepper was more expensive than the Rite Aid stock however I went with it because it was the better investment.

 

[MountainPharmD]

CVS, Walgreens, what is the third one again?

Wal-Mart

 

[SHC1984]

Wal-Mart

Walmart is actually a nice place to work at. When I was an intern there we were ALWAYS overstaffed!!! Most pharmacies (Walgreens and CVS) are severely understaffed and have hardly any help. Walmart you are always overstaffed and if you are the pharmacist the only thing you have to do is verify your scripts. Forget ever getting the cash register! Thank god!

 

[Angela1234]

How about Rite Aid? No one hardly ever talks about this giant? I heard they have a three strikes you're out rule, if the pharmacist makes 3 mistakes you are gone. Is this true? How do people feel about Rite Aid?

 

[SHC1984]

How about Rite Aid? No one hardly ever talks about this giant? I heard they have a three strikes you're out rule, if the pharmacist makes 3 mistakes you are gone. Is this true? How do people feel about Rite Aid?

Most likely just like CVS and Walgreens except WORST b/c they are going out of business soon....when that happens you are screwed.

 

[Chris co2012]

Most likely just like CVS and Walgreens except WORST b/c they are going out of business soon....when that happens you are screwed.

A supervisor may be able to use this so-called "3-Strike" rule as a tool to fire a pharmacist they don't like but I have a hard time believing that it's a set-in-stone policy.

I mean, mistakes happen. It's really a case-by-case basis. I've had small mistakes, and I've had one sorta-but-not-really-all-that-bad mistake. My supervisor has never one time even had a one-on-one with me about it.

We're a high volume store. Crap happens. It's VERY unfortunate, and I would feel horrible about it... but what are you gonna do? Especially when big corporate doesn't want to pay for quality help (see my thread about techs not wanting to stay), you are bound to make a mistake.

Here's a mistake that I made recently (It wasn't a misfill, but it was a mistake business-wise.):

We were short-staffed and had TWO people from the front store helping us. These people had NO CLUE about how pharmacy worked, and I swear they asked me about every little stupid thing. Well, apparently I filled a high-dollar drug and told the person at the register to "just give it to the patient." So she literally just handed them the bag. Now, I got talked to about it because there's a $50-copay and it wasn't rung up.

So, I went straight to my supervisor. "WE CANNOT KEEP THESE UNSKILLED WORKERS IN OUR PHARMACY." He agreed and he totally understood.

To be honest, I don't even remember the situation. I don't remember telling anybody to just give any patient the prescription. But then again, we're busy and I probably say a lot of crap that I don't remember.

The point is that mistakes happen. Whether it's a misfill or a simple miscommunication like that. I highly doubt there's a "3-Strike" rule in place. Each situation is different. Sure, it's very scary when mistakes happen but no man nor woman is perfect.

 

[Angela1234]

I worked there years ago briefly, and I saw someone leave with someone else's medication. Also a pharmacist gave someone the wrong dose of Adderall. Back then, they paid pharmacy technicians only minimum wage. It's a shame we lost Eckerd's to Rite Aid, I liked Eckerd's better.

 

[dopi]

I am sure this is not new. I became a mom 5 years ago and left the workforce to take care of my baby. My husband lost his job so I decided to work again. Things have changed so much. I am not picky but it has been difficult to say the least. Good luck to those who are still looking.