Walmart Pharmacy Hours

[AlwaysContrary]

Hey guys!

I found out today while interviewing for an intern position at Wal-Mart that full time is only 32 hours. I am wondering if SDN finds this a good thing or bad thing. I personally think its not that great because we would be making less money but I'm not sure if it works that way.

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[awval999]

Well it depends.

Some people would enjoy working only 32 hours and still qualifying for health benefits, 401k, etc.

But others would not like missing out on the difference in pay.

 

[zelman]

Some of us are really enjoying 24 hour weeks.

 

[Sine Cura]

If you want to pay off loans rapidly, if you actually get only 32 a week, yes it sucks. There are also these other factors to consider:

Whether you will be called upon to cover last-minute shifts. In my experience people with 32 guaranteed hours either cover two stores or are floaters (not just WM) and actually end up working more than 32 due to call outs, to cover LOA etc.

If you have another "significant" source of income in your household, less pressure to keep household financially solvent

If your shifts are eight hours, that's another free day to enjoy your meager finite lifespan.

You might have to contribute a higher % pre-tax to max out your annual 401(k) contributions if your hours are limited to 32/week.

If you knew you wouldn't be alive at 65, would you care about retirement savings as much?

Personally I would love to work only 32 a week (easy to say now with no student loan debt) but no one wants the "responsibility" of being a RXM or full-time staff pharmacist at a single store

 

[trailerpark]

It sounds good in theory but most likely you'll be scheduled for more and it's more of an insurance policy to Walmart when they want to cut your hours. They're only guaranteeing 32 hours a week, they're not saying you won't be working more than that or you won't be driving to other stores far away on your own dime. These changes with Walmart benefit them, not us pharmacists. They want to get a ton of part timers and have them "flex" all over. I guess it's good for old timers who are already established. New grads, nope.


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[6GodPharm]

I'm pumped to drop down to 32 hours a week in 3-7 years

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I'm at around 55/week usually if not more. I'm pumped for 40-44 hour a week in a couple years lol

 

[6GodPharm]

Yea I am at 40 and it's plenty for me. I pick up a few shifts here and there and don't mind it , but u will never work more than 40 hours a week on a regular basis.

I think its a walmart thing to work no OT. Later on I wouldn't mind but CVS throws OT for pharmacists like a $2 hooker

 

[ChalupaBatman86]

Later on I wouldn't mind but CVS throws OT for pharmacists like a $2 hooker

Huh?




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[Sine Cura]

Aside from time-and-a-half, another possible reason WM doesn't want RPH to work OT in CA is that the annual bonus payout seems to be prorated based on average hours/week worked over your base. So if you worked 50 hours a week somehow and your base is 40 then you get your bonus +20%. At least that's what it seems to be.

 

[bananaface]

To the OP, you didn't get the full story. Pharmacists hired on with a base salary of 64, 72, or 80 hours per bieeekly pay period are all considered FT and qualify for FT benefits (medical, dental, vision for up to family level, 401k, stock plan, bonus structure). Most pharmacy managers and non-floating staff pharmacists are at 80/PP. Those working less have typically chosen the lower hours brackets because of personal preference. I think it is a good thing that I could decrease my base hours and still keep my job and benefits if I wanted to.

The trade off is that paid time off is allotted based on base salary, so if you are hired at 64 and always work 80, you are getting a bit screwed. But if you always work 80, you should be able to get your base salary adjusted to that level.

There are a lot more people opting for under 80 hours, which means we can now ask for time off most any time of year and there will be someone who can flex up and cover.

 

[zelman]

The trade off is that paid time off is allotted based on base salary, so if you are hired at 64 and always work 80, you are getting a bit screwed. But if you always work 80, you should be able to get your base salary adjusted to that level.

But, if cash is worth more to you than PTO, stay at 64 hrs to get the differential on 16 hrs when you work 80.

 

[BidingMyTime]

But, if cash is worth more to you than PTO, stay at 64 hrs to get the differential on 16 hrs when you work 80.

B]

The cash is the same. Someone hired on at 64 hours, is at a lower salary than someone hired on at 80 hours. If Walmart pays their pharmacists $50/hr (picked for ease of math), then the 64 hour person will get $3200 and if they work 2 extra shifts, then $800 added on, or $4000. The 80 hr person will get $4,000. There is no cash benefit for a salaried person to stat at the tier.

 

[Charcoales]

to be honest i kinda like 32 hours, not at work enough to start to hate it while at the same time plenty of time for my hobbies and family.

 

[zelman]

B]

The cash is the same. Someone hired on at 64 hours, is at a lower salary than someone hired on at 80 hours. If Walmart pays their pharmacists $50/hr (picked for ease of math), then the 64 hour person will get $3200 and if they work 2 extra shifts, then $800 added on, or $4000. The 80 hr person will get $4,000. There is no cash benefit for a salaried person to stat at the tier.

Weird. I get a (small) differential in my district for hours worked over my base.

 

[Lnsean]

Hey guys!

I found out today while interviewing for an intern position at Wal-Mart that full time is only 32 hours. I am wondering if SDN finds this a good thing or bad thing. I personally think its not that great because we would be making less money but I'm not sure if it works that way.

It's almost the norm now in large metro areas----Walgreens has been offering their new grads only 32 hours for years now.