Working for Cvs

[ancienbon]

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Does anyone feel working for CVS is like riding a rollercoaster in the dark-such as space mountain in Orlando?
It is ridiculous the amount of work a rph has to do during his shift with no overlap. How come a store that does over 2200 scripts a week has no rph overlap at all?
How to keep up with all the metrics? Does the computer voice generating " you have 1 incoming call" distract you?

 

[trailerpark]

During my IPPE at CVS everyone just seemed pretty miserable to be honest.

 

[BenJammin]

Do techs wear white coats at CVS?

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

Does anyone feel working for CVS is like riding a rollercoaster in the dark-such as space mountain in Orlando?
It is ridiculous the amount of work a rph has to do during his shift with no overlap. How come a store that does over 2200 scripts a week has no rph overlap at all?
How to keep up with all the metrics? Does the computer voice generating " you have 1 incoming call" distract you?

Have you talk to your Sup?

 

[KidPharmD]

Have you talk to your Sup?

Probably the worst decision. Most supervisors aren't very sympathetic to this kind of attitude, espically if your numbers (PCQ calls, etc) suffer as a result of you having difficulty. Find the other semi-young pharmacists in your district to get advice on how to adapt.

You could also go do what I did, and go do something else...

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

Probably the worst decision. Most supervisors aren't very sympathetic to this kind of attitude, espically if your numbers (PCQ calls, etc) suffer as a result of you having difficulty. Find the other semi-young pharmacists in your district to get advice on how to adapt.

You could also go do what I did, and go do something else...

I find that most good sups care about their business.

The volume clearly indicates that there should be overlap somewhere. Under CVS guidelines, it is eligible. He might not get overlap every day, but he can qualify for one to two 8 hour shifts on busier days. By having extra overlaps, the pharmacy can grow.

The Sup wants the same for his pharmacy. He wants sales. Everything else is given by the company. He does not dictate which pharmacy gets overlap or not. Corporate does. If he puts in the request for it, he gets extra RPH hours for his budget. Its a win win for him because he gets extra pharmacist hours and sales. Depending on states, the Sup is also making sure that there is correct RPh to tech to cashier ratio...

PCQ comes with the extra overlap... (although that is mostly a technician function in 2200 volume store).

On the other hand...., there might be obstacles. Maybe there is a shortage of pharmacists...? Maybe it is only 2200 for one week... ? What is the trend for next few months? Maybe they are using a lot of technician hours. (5 tech hours = one RPH hour). etc.

 

[maria1oh]

When I floated I was at a store that had the computer generated voice turned down on volume so you could barely hear it. Most stores have it blaringly loud and gets bad when "there are 3 pharmacy calls". Not to mention the voice announcing cars in the drive thru is just as bad!

I once almost answered my cell as if I was at cvs answering the phone!

 

[KidPharmD]

I find that most good sups care about their business.

The volume clearly indicates that there should be overlap somewhere. Under CVS guidelines, it is eligible. He might not get overlap every day, but he can qualify for one to two 8 hour shifts on busier days. By having extra overlaps, the pharmacy can grow.

The Sup wants the same for his pharmacy. He wants sales. Everything else is given by the company. He does not dictate which pharmacy gets overlap or not. Corporate does. If he puts in the request for it, he gets extra RPH hours for his budget. Its a win win for him because he gets extra pharmacist hours and sales. Depending on states, the Sup is also making sure that there is correct RPh to tech to cashier ratio...

PCQ comes with the extra overlap... (although that is mostly a technician function in 2200 volume store).

On the other hand...., there might be obstacles. Maybe there is a shortage of pharmacists...? Maybe it is only 2200 for one week... ? What is the trend for next few months? Maybe they are using a lot of technician hours. (5 tech hours = one RPH hour). etc.

One of the important things would be if this was a 24hr store or a 14hr store. 14hr stores get more hours for the same number of prescriptions a week. When I was at CVS we were a 2500/wk average store that was 24hr. We didn't get any overlap, and only barely enough tech hours. When I asked about such things, I was told it should be motivation to get things on ReadyFill (the overnight pharmacist does ReadyFill).

 

[Unchained]

I find that most good sups care about their business.

The volume clearly indicates that there should be overlap somewhere. Under CVS guidelines, it is eligible. He might not get overlap every day, but he can qualify for one to two 8 hour shifts on busier days. By having extra overlaps, the pharmacy can grow.

The Sup wants the same for his pharmacy. He wants sales. Everything else is given by the company. He does not dictate which pharmacy gets overlap or not. Corporate does. If he puts in the request for it, he gets extra RPH hours for his budget. Its a win win for him because he gets extra pharmacist hours and sales. Depending on states, the Sup is also making sure that there is correct RPh to tech to cashier ratio...

PCQ comes with the extra overlap... (although that is mostly a technician function in 2200 volume store).

On the other hand...., there might be obstacles. Maybe there is a shortage of pharmacists...? Maybe it is only 2200 for one week... ? What is the trend for next few months? Maybe they are using a lot of technician hours. (5 tech hours = one RPH hour). etc.

I swear you must work in CVS fantasyland somewhere way off the grid. The situations you describe just don't apply to like 99% of the people working for that company. Your advice cannot be applied. Most sups would laugh at your suggestions. Just try pulling rank on your sup by going to corporate and requesting more help. You better have a job lined up. They are not too concerned about sales ie tobacco. They are more concerned with reducing costs. Give them an opportunity to replace a pharmacist with a new grad debt slave who they can pay less and they will take it.

 

[owlegrad]

I don't know the numbers off the top of my head but I am not sure a 2,200/wk store would qualify for overlap. We do more than that during our season and were told we do not qualify for overlap.

You have to be a 2,500/wk store to get a Kerby Lester, or so I have been told by several people. We don't quite do that so we don't qualify for one. Grrrr.

Anyone know the turnover rate for RPhs at CVS? I know in my district we hardly ever lose pharmacists, except for people transferring to other parts of the state/country. You always hear (on SDN) about how they try to replace RPhs with new grads, but I haven't seen happen myself.

 

[maria1oh]

I wonder how the automation units in the high volume stores affect the tech hours. (Script pro, Kerby Lester-60, etc).

 

[Kelp103]

We only have a Kerby because we used to be an Eckerd's (I thought all stores had them until a relief told me). We don't use him that much really. We do around 2000-2400 a week and aren't allowed overlap (never even been suggested really). We've also tried to get a store remodel for years (our store is literally like 1/3 of the size the newer stores).
In my district, it doesn't seem like we lose pharmacists either (unless they chose to quit, it doesn't seem like they're forced out, just tired of CVS in general and there aren't that many of them). Our good relief pharmacists have said that their hours are being cut though (or they are having to go farther for stores) because of new hires. That's the only news I've heard of people getting pushed out.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I swear you must work in CVS fantasyland somewhere way off the grid. The situations you describe just don't apply to like 99% of the people working for that company. Your advice cannot be applied. Most sups would laugh at your suggestions. Just try pulling rank on your sup by going to corporate and requesting more help. You better have a job lined up. They are not too concerned about sales ie tobacco. They are more concerned with reducing costs. Give them an opportunity to replace a pharmacist with a new grad debt slave who they can pay less and they will take it.

One of the important things would be if this was a 24hr store or a 14hr store. 14hr stores get more hours for the same number of prescriptions a week. When I was at CVS we were a 2500/wk average store that was 24hr. We didn't get any overlap, and only barely enough tech hours. When I asked about such things, I was told it should be motivation to get things on ReadyFill (the overnight pharmacist does ReadyFill).

That is true... a 2200 scripts at a 24 hour store would not be eligible for overlap.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I don't know the numbers off the top of my head but I am not sure a 2,200/wk store would qualify for overlap. We do more than that during our season and were told we do not qualify for overlap.

You have to be a 2,500/wk store to get a Kerby Lester, or so I have been told by several people. We don't quite do that so we don't qualify for one. Grrrr.

Anyone know the turnover rate for RPhs at CVS? I know in my district we hardly ever lose pharmacists, except for people transferring to other parts of the state/country. You always hear (on SDN) about how they try to replace RPhs with new grads, but I haven't seen happen myself.

No... I have always said this. CVS is not replacing older RPh with newer ones. It does not make business sense to do so because the older ones are experienced and know what they are doing. Once in a while, there might be an older RPh who does not adapt or stuck in their old way. They are being fired because they are not following CVS rules (ie not doing observations).., not because they are over paid. In fact, a lot of them are paid similar to new grads because their numbers suck and did not get raises.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I swear you must work in CVS fantasyland somewhere way off the grid. The situations you describe just don't apply to like 99% of the people working for that company. Your advice cannot be applied. Most sups would laugh at your suggestions. Just try pulling rank on your sup by going to corporate and requesting more help. You better have a job lined up. They are not too concerned about sales ie tobacco. They are more concerned with reducing costs. Give them an opportunity to replace a pharmacist with a new grad debt slave who they can pay less and they will take it.

wtf are you talking about? The sup goes to corporate and asks for more hours. Most people don't ask for overlap because they don't know that they have that option.

The sup does not get money for reducing costs. They are rated on their district's SOS (stores own SALES) just like how pharmacy managers are rated on SOS. MCP (Managers controlled profit) which is both front and pharmacy is worth 10% of their report card.

On the other hand, Sales (20 percent), and customer service (30 percent) is worth 50 percent of their report card. Any Sup who thinks not granting overlap to a store who deserves overlap is an idiot. They do not get penalized for using RPH hours if it is BUDGETED. This is approved by corporate.

If the PIC does not ask the sup, the sup will not ask corporate for overlap for the store. Then nothing will ever happen.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I don't know the numbers off the top of my head but I am not sure a 2,200/wk store would qualify for overlap. We do more than that during our season and were told we do not qualify for overlap.

You have to be a 2,500/wk store to get a Kerby Lester, or so I have been told by several people. We don't quite do that so we don't qualify for one. Grrrr.

Anyone know the turnover rate for RPhs at CVS? I know in my district we hardly ever lose pharmacists, except for people transferring to other parts of the state/country. You always hear (on SDN) about how they try to replace RPhs with new grads, but I haven't seen happen myself.

Hey owl.., I understand you work in the city. Did you ask your sup how many more scripts you have to do to qualify? Is your store a 24 hour pharmacy?

There are a lot of pharmacies where they have overlap for 2200 volume for 8 hour overlaps on Mondays or Tuesdays. Also, if your Mondays are over 350 to 400, you should request overlap (point it out to your sup it is not manageable or safe).

 

[shammy99]

I worked for CVS for 5 years, and the decision to leave that company probably ranks as one of the best things I ever did. When I left I was working at a store that did about 3200 scripts per week. That year they cut our pharmacist overlap from 3 hours (still ****ty) to 1 (what's the point) and our tech hours were at 205. Our metrics were average (not one of the best stores, but we weren't considered "challenged" either...I learned quickly to try to settle in the middle). I would continually ask my DM about staffing hours, safety concerns, etc but the only reply I would get from him was "I know, this is coming from above or it's all in how you schedule". I'm sorry, but working with 205 tech hours for over 3200 scripts is just plain unsafe and makes NO sense.

The turnover rate in our area was HUGE...when I was hired right out of school in 2008 there were 29 new grads hired that same year. Five years later when I left, I was the second to the last to do so (and the last person has since left as well). I now work for a grocery store chain and wish I had made the change sooner!

 

[doublehh03]

wtf are you talking about? The sup goes to corporate and asks for more hours. Most people don't ask for overlap because they don't know that they have that option.

The sup does not get money for reducing costs. They are rated on their district's SOS (stores own SALES) just like how pharmacy managers are rated on SOS. MCP (Managers controlled profit) which is both front and pharmacy is worth 10% of their report card.

On the other hand, Sales (20 percent), and customer service (30 percent) is worth 50 percent of their report card. Any Sup who thinks not granting overlap to a store who deserves overlap is an idiot. They do not get penalized for using RPH hours if it is BUDGETED. This is approved by corporate.

If the PIC does not ask the sup, the sup will not ask corporate for overlap for the store. Then nothing will ever happen.

They are also rated on if they meet budget pharmacist hour wise, tech wise, and any OT. That's where they get most of their bonuses... I PERSONALLY knew a sup who altered pharmacist budgeted hours to a few hours less just so it helps his bonus. So A TON of sups now are paranoid about hours.

Look, at the end of the day, what CVS rph needs to do (esp. if you're PICs) is run your store how you feel you should run your store. Your sups aren't there so they don't know what's going on. I've been running 15-20 hours over tech hours on a regular basis (and get hassled by my sup) but I feel its' the best thing for my store and staff. And I still feel understaffed. I probably would go over more if I have more part time techs.

Staff your store as you think necessary to maintain your store workflow and provide the best service. When sales are up, the sups can't say jack (and this current sup has the nerve to tell me I can't flex hours I was like SMH).

And I can't believe they fire a RPH over observations. Those things like pretty much useless LOL.

 

[Angela1234]

They are also rated on if they meet budget pharmacist hour wise, tech wise, and any OT. That's where they get most of their bonuses... I PERSONALLY knew a sup who altered pharmacist budgeted hours to a few hours less just so it helps his bonus. So A TON of sups now are paranoid about hours.

Look, at the end of the day, what CVS rph needs to do (esp. if you're PICs) is run your store how you feel you should run your store. Your sups aren't there so they don't know what's going on. I've been running 15-20 hours over tech hours on a regular basis (and get hassled by my sup) but I feel its' the best thing for my store and staff. And I still feel understaffed. I probably would go over more if I have more part time techs.

Staff your store as you think necessary to maintain your store workflow and provide the best service. When sales are up, the sups can't say jack (and this current sup has the nerve to tell me I can't flex hours I was like SMH).

And I can't believe they fire a RPH over observations. Those things like pretty much useless LOL.

What's there not to believe about this awful company? They can fire anyone for any reason at all. I know personally of an older pharmacist who they fired for bullcrap reasons when everyone thinks it was so they wouldn't have to pay him so much. Why should they when you can get a new grad for cheaper? Most of the pharmacists who I know started working last year are already gone. The one I know who is left the district manager encouraged him to leave when they cut his hours, and he can't even support his family. Gotta make room for the next round of new grads.

 

[doublehh03]

What's there not to believe about this awful company? They can fire anyone for any reason at all. I know personally of an older pharmacist who they fired for bullcrap reasons when everyone thinks it was so they wouldn't have to pay him so much. Why should they when you can get a new grad for cheaper? Most of the pharmacists who I know started working last year are already gone. The one I know who is left the district manager encouraged him to leave when they cut his hours, and he can't even support his family. Gotta make room for the next round of new grads.

I don't believe that's true. My district is in need of RPH and we don't just hire any new grads (the past few years the new grads have been bad). They just hired several with 7-8 years of retail experience. I don't know where people get the notion that CVS (or any retail) want new grads automatically. Sure they want new hires who will be "good." but they're not hiring b/c they're cheaper. And they don't pay new hires cheaper. It varies.

If you're 50 and you're running the store well, you'll be there. I just had a new grad who worked at my store for 8 months and he's ridiculously slow and he's being slow phased out after just a year. It's about whether they think you can perform according to their expectations. Age isn't an issue.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

They are also rated on if they meet budget pharmacist hour wise, tech wise, and any OT. That's where they get most of their bonuses... I PERSONALLY knew a sup who altered pharmacist budgeted hours to a few hours less just so it helps his bonus. So A TON of sups now are paranoid about hours.

Look, at the end of the day, what CVS rph needs to do (esp. if you're PICs) is run your store how you feel you should run your store. Your sups aren't there so they don't know what's going on. I've been running 15-20 hours over tech hours on a regular basis (and get hassled by my sup) but I feel its' the best thing for my store and staff. And I still feel understaffed. I probably would go over more if I have more part time techs.

Staff your store as you think necessary to maintain your store workflow and provide the best service. When sales are up, the sups can't say jack (and this current sup has the nerve to tell me I can't flex hours I was like SMH).

And I can't believe they fire a RPH over observations. Those things like pretty much useless LOL.

no.... I don't even know where to begin because you are mis-informed.

Sups are rated solely on SOS since they rolled that out. A sup will be paranoid about hours because if they are over their BUDGET, they are held accountable. After a while, they get terminated. It is very easy for a sup to be 2-300k over budget because it is a multiplier effect (instead of one store, they have 18-25 stores). That is hard to explain to Regional manager and AVP.

Because you are giving overlap to a store, you are INCREASING rph BUDGET. Since this is in their budget, they do not get penalized for this. Hence, this is a WIN-WIN for a sup. I can not simplify this anymore.

They get most of their bonuses from SALES and Customer service. Just like how PIC bonus is based on Sales, KPM, and customer service last year, and SOS card this year, Sups bonuses are based on the same thing on a district level.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

They are also rated on if they meet budget pharmacist hour wise, tech wise, and any OT. That's where they get most of their bonuses... I PERSONALLY knew a sup who altered pharmacist budgeted hours to a few hours less just so it helps his bonus. So A TON of sups now are paranoid about hours.

Look, at the end of the day, what CVS rph needs to do (esp. if you're PICs) is run your store how you feel you should run your store. Your sups aren't there so they don't know what's going on. I've been running 15-20 hours over tech hours on a regular basis (and get hassled by my sup) but I feel its' the best thing for my store and staff. And I still feel understaffed. I probably would go over more if I have more part time techs.

Staff your store as you think necessary to maintain your store workflow and provide the best service. When sales are up, the sups can't say jack (and this current sup has the nerve to tell me I can't flex hours I was like SMH).

And I can't believe they fire a RPH over observations. Those things like pretty much useless LOL.

I don't think observations are useless if done properly. The RPh was fired because of poor customer service, poor kpm, poor everything, and despite several write ups, did nothing to change that including doing observations.

 

[doublehh03]

no.... I don't even know where to begin because you are mis-informed.

Sups are rated solely on SOS since they rolled that out. A sup will be paranoid about hours because if they are over their BUDGET, they are held accountable. After a while, they get terminated. It is very easy for a sup to be 2-300k over budget because it is a multiplier effect (instead of one store, they have 18-25 stores). That is hard to explain to Regional manager and AVP.

Because you are giving overlap to a store, you are INCREASING rph BUDGET. Since this is in their budget, they do not get penalized for this. Hence, this is a WIN-WIN for a sup. I can not simplify this anymore.

They get most of their bonuses from SALES and Customer service. Just like how PIC bonus is based on Sales, KPM, and customer service last year, and SOS card this year, Sups bonuses are based on the same thing on a district level.

I don't think we're talking about the same thing. But you are pretty mis-informed if you think sups are just judged on sales/kpm/sos (or same as a PIC a the district level). P&L plays a HUGE HUGE factor in their bonuses (which doesn't help the PIC at all, but it does help the front store manager).

Each store is given green sheets to operate with on how they staff their store (RPH/techs). You can't exceed this, unless you're meeting scripts budget and thus flex up or down if you're not. So if you're meeting script budget and going over (RPH or tech), it doesn't hurt the budget b/c your store's sales are making up for it.

But ultimately, the store is not supposed to exceed that green sheet budget/target hours. Keeping the stores at those targets (AND more importantly not doing too much OT) will help a SUP's bonus (yes a sup told me that) b/c controlling budget. That will eventually contribute to your "CONTRIBUTION A" (or the store total profit monthly or yearly). The higher the contribution A -> more of that will be bonuses to the district manager and supervisor.

So I have this new sup that goes on a barrage about not going over hours and NO FLEXING and NO OT, I"m like STHU.

 

[doublehh03]

I don't think observations are useless if done properly. The RPh was fired because of poor customer service, poor kpm, poor everything, and despite several write ups, did nothing to change that including doing observations.

So the RPH is fired for more than just not doing observations.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I don't think we're talking about the same thing. But you are pretty mis-informed if you think sups are just judged on sales/kpm/sos (or same as a PIC a the district level). P&L plays a HUGE HUGE factor in their bonuses (which doesn't help the PIC at all, but it does help the front store manager).

Each store is given green sheets to operate with on how they staff their store (RPH/techs). You can't exceed this, unless you're meeting scripts budget and thus flex up or down if you're not. So if you're meeting script budget and going over (RPH or tech), it doesn't hurt the budget b/c your store's sales are making up for it.

But ultimately, the store is not supposed to exceed that green sheet budget/target hours. Keeping the stores at those targets (AND more importantly not doing too much OT) will help a SUP's bonus (yes a sup told me that) b/c controlling budget. That will eventually contribute to your "CONTRIBUTION A" (or the store total profit monthly or yearly). The higher the contribution A -> more of that will be bonuses to the district manager and supervisor.

So I have this new sup that goes on a barrage about not going over hours and NO FLEXING and NO OT, I"m like STHU.

Your new sup is an idiot (and new which explains a lot...). The question begs, which increases his bonus more... sales and customer service or keeping hours under control? If he thinks he can get a tremendous amount of stock equity and bonus by keeping RPh hours on budget (which he is suppose to do anyway), then he will learn very quickly that is wrong. In addition, what grows the business?

yes... keeping your budget under control will contribute to your P + L, but not flexing up will NOT increase your bonus. There is nothing given by corporate that says (If you save us x amount of RPh hours by not flexing, we will give you this much back). That makes no business sense.

If anything, this will lead to a decrease in your bonus (decrease sales and customer service), and harm your employee morale leading to poor engagement survey results(which is a big thing for them).

 

[Tiger Wong]

Was reading on Wiki and I saw this: "During 2005, a rash of prescription mistakes came to light in some of CVS Corporation's Boston-area stores. An investigation confirmed 62 errors or quality problems going back to 2002. In February 2006, the state Board of Pharmacy announced that the non-profit Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) would monitor all Massachusetts stores for the next two years."

Can someone shed some light on this? I know this was long time ago, but I am really curious about what actually happened..

 

[JanuviaGrl]

No... I have always said this. CVS is not replacing older RPh with newer ones. It does not make business sense to do so because the older ones are experienced and know what they are doing. Once in a while, there might be an older RPh who does not adapt or stuck in their old way. They are being fired because they are not following CVS rules (ie not doing observations).., not because they are over paid. In fact, a lot of them are paid similar to new grads because their numbers suck and did not get raises.[/QUOT

When you "numbers" what exactly are you referring to that they are looking at? Is it how fast you verify? And what else?

 

[pharmacist711]

CVS is hiring so many PIC in area where I live (5 pic positions within 15 miles radius from my zip).
1st question; why so many opening? 2nd ; what is the hrly pay for someone with good pic experience? 3rd; how is the health insurance ? Deductible, network, copays etc.
can anyone help me with answers on these qns? It will help me make a decision.

 

[Unchained]

CVS is hiring so many PIC in area where I live (5 pic positions within 15 miles radius from my zip).
1st question; why so many opening? 2nd ; what is the hrly pay for someone with good pic experience? 3rd; how is the health insurance ? Deductible, network, copays etc.
can anyone help me with answers on these qns? It will help me make a decision.

They are hiring so many PICs because no one wants to do it. Once you agree to it you are trapped. They won't let you step down to staff. The only way out is to leave the company or float. The turnover at CVS is very high. It's a good place to go for a year or two while you look for a better company to work for.

 

[n64bomb]

They are hiring so many PICs because no one wants to do it. Once you agree to it you are trapped. They won't let you step down to staff. The only way out is to leave the company or float. The turnover at CVS is very high. It's a good place to go for a year or two while you look for a better company to work for.

Couldnt have said this better myself. Almost accepted PIC at cvs. Best decision ever to stay staff. Stayed 1.9 years at cvs as rph staff. CVS was only job offer I had coming out of school. They give you 1 year grace where corporate cant harass you. About 1-2 month after that grace, I was already fed up with them (and if im searching for a new job, im not just neutral or on the fence, i've already made the decision that cvs is a job not a career) find a new job at that time and reupped lease for 6 months. Once new lease expired went month to month for 4 months (February on of this year) until had a job lined up. Dropped CVS like a bad habbit. Left CVS 5/30/14 at the absolute 1st chance i got. CVS corporate can suck my hairy dick. People kept asking me on my last 2 days "aren't you going to miss us" and sentimental crap like that. I just didnt say anything. I'm not nervous for my new job at all. I left a job at cvs as a pharmacist for a career at another pharmacy as a pharmacist. People at my store were like "well thats good you didnt burn any bridges. You never know you might want to come back" from the store manager and a couple of techs. I told them that even if my new job fell through, I would not come in to work after 5/29/14. The store manager was kinda taken off guard by this I think. The truth shall set you free. CVS is just lucky I didnt walk out the door 11 days earlier when Walmart wanted me to start. I wouldnt have felt unjustified to just walk out of cvs, lock the pharmacy in the middle of the day, and throw the keys to the store manager. Only reason i didnt is some respect for store manager and I didnt want patient care to be compromised, but CVS corporate definitely earned my disrespect and hatred.

I wouldnt consider being a PIC at CVS even if you are really interested in it. Take whatever they offer you and ask for 20K per year extra in stock options (they have a new stock incentive program) to more to make up for all the extra bs. I would just tell them otherwise find someone else.

 

[queenietess]

Couldnt have said this better myself. Almost accepted PIC at cvs. Best decision ever to stay staff. Stayed 1.9 years at cvs as rph staff. CVS was only job offer I had coming out of school. They give you 1 year grace where corporate cant harass you. About 1-2 month after that grace, I was already fed up with them (and if im searching for a new job, im not just neutral or on the fence, i've already made the decision that cvs is a job not a career) find a new job at that time and reupped lease for 6 months. Once new lease expired went month to month for 4 months (February on of this year) until had a job lined up. Dropped CVS like a bad habbit. Left CVS 5/30/14 at the absolute 1st chance i got. CVS corporate can suck my hairy dick. People kept asking me on my last 2 days "aren't you going to miss us" and sentimental crap like that. I just didnt say anything. I'm not nervous for my new job at all. I left a job at cvs as a pharmacist for a career at another pharmacy as a pharmacist. People at my store were like "well thats good you didnt burn any bridges. You never know you might want to come back" from the store manager and a couple of techs. I told them that even if my new job fell through, I would not come in to work after 5/29/14. The store manager was kinda taken off guard by this I think. The truth shall set you free. CVS is just lucky I didnt walk out the door 11 days earlier when Walmart wanted me to start. I wouldnt have felt unjustified to just walk out of cvs, lock the pharmacy in the middle of the day, and throw the keys to the store manager. Only reason i didnt is some respect for store manager and I didnt want patient care to be compromised, but CVS corporate definitely earned my disrespect and hatred.

I wouldnt consider being a PIC at CVS even if you are really interested in it. Take whatever they offer you and ask for 20K per year extra in stock options (they have a new stock incentive program) to more to make up for all the extra bs. I would just tell them otherwise find someone else.[/
QUOTE]

Left cvs for Walmart earlier this year and it was the best decision I ever made. Walmart is a lot better. More techs and cashiers. Only lasted 1 year at cvs. Even got a $3 an hour raise for
Lefts

 

[Angela1234]

Queentietess, you also get a lunch at WalMart, which is awesome. You can also use the restroom during that time and don't have district managers making snide comments about you using the restroom and trying to use it against you.

 

[ancienbon]

Couldnt have said this better myself. Almost accepted PIC at cvs. Best decision ever to stay staff. Stayed 1.9 years at cvs as rph staff. CVS was only job offer I had coming out of school. They give you 1 year grace where corporate cant harass you. About 1-2 month after that grace, I was already fed up with them (and if im searching for a new job, im not just neutral or on the fence, i've already made the decision that cvs is a job not a career) find a new job at that time and reupped lease for 6 months. Once new lease expired went month to month for 4 months (February on of this year) until had a job lined up. Dropped CVS like a bad habbit. Left CVS 5/30/14 at the absolute 1st chance i got. CVS corporate can suck my hairy dick. People kept asking me on my last 2 days "aren't you going to miss us" and sentimental crap like that. I just didnt say anything. I'm not nervous for my new job at all. I left a job at cvs as a pharmacist for a career at another pharmacy as a pharmacist. People at my store were like "well thats good you didnt burn any bridges. You never know you might want to come back" from the store manager and a couple of techs. I told them that even if my new job fell through, I would not come in to work after 5/29/14. The store manager was kinda taken off guard by this I think. The truth shall set you free. CVS is just lucky I didnt walk out the door 11 days earlier when Walmart wanted me to start. I wouldnt have felt unjustified to just walk out of cvs, lock the pharmacy in the middle of the day, and throw the keys to the store manager. Only reason i didnt is some respect for store manager and I didnt want patient care to be compromised, but CVS corporate definitely earned my disrespect and hatred.

I wouldnt consider being a PIC at CVS even if you are really interested in it. Take whatever they offer you and ask for 20K per year extra in stock options (they have a new stock incentive program) to more to make up for all the extra bs. I would just tell them otherwise find someone else.

I agree with you. CVS is a tough place to work. Some days are hell . How can a company let pharmacists work for 14 hrs with no break? Cvs is not a safe place to work. Everything is timed from the time you answer the phone calls, to the time you check your voice mails. Supervisors threaten your job if you keep missing stupid metrics. No time to use the bathroom. It keeps getting worse

 

[owlegrad]

Hey owl.., I understand you work in the city. Did you ask your sup how many more scripts you have to do to qualify? Is your store a 24 hour pharmacy?

There are a lot of pharmacies where they have overlap for 2200 volume for 8 hour overlaps on Mondays or Tuesdays. Also, if your Mondays are over 350 to 400, you should request overlap (point it out to your sup it is not manageable or safe).

Hey Azn I don't know if I would call my home town "the city", it certainly is no Orlando or Miami, but there are smaller towns also. I didn't personally talk to the sup about it so I am just going by what my PIC said. I do not know how many more scripts we would have to do to get some overlap. I did look at my green sheets though and discovered that our peak weak was about 2150 scripts, with a four week average of over 2000 scripts. This was the first year our store had not had overlap. We used to be a 24 hour but we lost that several years back. We have had declining script counts ever since, with the exception of the boost from Express Scripts last year or so. Oddly our service scores have drastically improved over the same time period.

We should have had overlap on Mondays for sure, over 350 for one pharmacist is not reasonable. Me and my partner did split shifts during our season for sanity sake but really we needed overlap.

 

[R xxx]

I float for CVS part-time and on Wednesday, we did over 700 scripts with 1 pharmacist. It's insane and dangerous. That store does over 3000 scripts a week with roughly 15 hours of overlapping pharmacist a week and it's not a 24-hour store. Last week it was over 3500 scripts. When I first started there, 400-500 on a Monday was busy and now it seems like 600-700 is the norm. I honestly don't know how those pharmacists do it.

 

[NateRobinson]

I agree with you. CVS is a tough place to work. Some days are hell . How can a company let pharmacists work for 14 hrs with no break? Cvs is not a safe place to work. Everything is timed from the time you answer the phone calls, to the time you check your voice mails. Supervisors threaten your job if you keep missing stupid metrics. No time to use the bathroom. It keeps getting worse

You need to understand something- if they DIDNT time how long it takes you to check your voicemails, you'd have rphs who just sit there and check them at the end of the day. That translates into bad customer service.

Metrics like that are needed to hold people accountable.

Why do people bitch about the VM retrieval thing anyway? How freaking long does it really take to listen To a voicemail? They give you 15 minutes. FIFTEEN MINUTES to push ONE BUTTON and listen to a recording.

If you can't manage to do that, I'm sorry, there's something terribly wrong with you.

 

[zelman]

You need to understand something- if they DIDNT time how long it takes you to check your voicemails, you'd have rphs who just sit there and check them at the end of the day. That translates into bad customer service.

Metrics like that are needed to hold people accountable.

Why do people bitch about the VM retrieval thing anyway? How freaking long does it really take to listen To a voicemail? They give you 15 minutes. FIFTEEN MINUTES to push ONE BUTTON and listen to a recording.

If you can't manage to do that, I'm sorry, there's something terribly wrong with you.

My old store had a pediatrician nearby who apparently did not own any prescription pads. They called in EVERY prescription. By the time I was done checking voicemail, there was a new one. Also, in this state, I was the only one who could legally check voicemails. In this environment, it was a giant hassle.

 

[ancienbon]

You need to understand something- if they DIDNT time how long it takes you to check your voicemails, you'd have rphs who just sit there and check them at the end of the day. That translates into bad customer service.

Metrics like that are needed to hold people accountable.

Why do people bitch about the VM retrieval thing anyway? How freaking long does it really take to listen To a voicemail? They give you 15 minutes. FIFTEEN MINUTES to push ONE BUTTON and listen to a recording.

If you can't manage to do that, I'm sorry, there's something terribly wrong with you.

Really, Have you ever worked in a busy Cvs where only one pharmacist fills over 4oo scripts? Have you worked in a cvs where most doctors would just leave new scripts on the voicemails? By the time you cleared it up, it is already full with new voice mails.
You may not understand what I mean because perhaps you work in a different cvs, But for people who work in busy cvs , they may understand me. Though when you call cvs , they said message is checked every hr but it is not true

 

[pharmd201389]

Really, Have you ever worked in a busy Cvs where only one pharmacist fills over 4oo scripts? Have you worked in a cvs where most doctors would just leave new scripts on the voicemails? By the time you cleared it up, it is already full with new voice mails.
You may not understand what I mean because perhaps you work in a different cvs, But for people who work in busy cvs , they may understand me. Though when you call cvs , they said message is checked every hr but it is not true

Well, I work In a busy cvs without overlap. I get these things done because I'm not lazy and I MOVE. A lot of RPH's hate metrics like this because they are used to doing nothing.

He is right though, 15 minutes is a long time given to check a voicemail. Even 10 minutes is long. I get the voicemails within 3 minutes all the time and this is when I'm busy

 

[BMBiology]

Well, I work In a busy cvs without overlap. I get these things done because I'm not lazy and I MOVE. A lot of RPH's hate metrics like this because they are used to doing nothing.

He is right though, 15 minutes is a long time given to check a voicemail. Even 10 minutes is long. I get the voicemails within 3 minutes all the time and this is when I'm busy

Just like a trained puppy. When you were in school, is this how you thought it would be?

 

[Tiger Wong]

I float for CVS part-time and on Wednesday, we did over 700 scripts with 1 pharmacist. .

Troll ???

 

[Old]

You need to understand something- if they DIDNT time how long it takes you to check your voicemails, you'd have rphs who just sit there and check them at the end of the day. That translates into bad customer service.

Metrics like that are needed to hold people accountable.

Why do people bitch about the VM retrieval thing anyway? How freaking long does it really take to listen To a voicemail? They give you 15 minutes. FIFTEEN MINUTES to push ONE BUTTON and listen to a recording.

If you can't manage to do that, I'm sorry, there's something terribly wrong with you.

Jeez,maybe they are really practicing the profession of pharmacy. Interactions, checking profiles, following up with docs etc etc etc. But you are now a puppet and have been trained to push a button within a specified period of time. If only a peanut would drop from the ceiling everytime you do it in 15 minutes the concern about no lunch breaks would be gone also. Next 10 minutes, then 9 minutes. What was it Pavlov's dog, I guess we now have CVS puppets.

 

[Old]

Troll ???

well, everyone else here did 701. Shame on you

 

[farmadiazepine]

CVS blows. Yes, it is a hassle to check voicemails. Every single time that damn red light blinks I hate it. Rewind, forward, repeat, "My doctor called it in right now", "What do you mean you didn't get it", etc.

Just because you're an RPh that "moves" doesn't mean your a good one. If you have that mentality, I guess it means CVS has already brain washed you. I work in CVS stores that do 400 prescriptions in a day with only 1 pharmacist. I work in an independent pharmacy that does 400 prescriptions in a day with 2 full time pharmacists. I hate my CVS job with a passion. I love my independent job with all my heart.

Does anybody else see the disconnect?

 

[maria1oh]

I think the voicemail metric only notes if you check in within 15 minutes and does not record the average time to check. So if you miss it by 1 minute the failure is the same as if you miss it by 3 hours.
I sometimes wonder if stores call in and leave fake voicemails just so they can retrieve them all within 15 minutes and help boost the percentage retrieved under 15 minutes.

 

[n64bomb]

I think the voicemail metric only notes if you check in within 15 minutes and does not record the average time to check. So if you miss it by 1 minute the failure is the same as if you miss it by 3 hours.
I sometimes wonder if stores call in and leave fake voicemails just so they can retrieve them all within 15 minutes and help boost the percentage retrieved under 15 minutes.

Yes, I abused this to the max. Set the bar low so the pharmacy manger was bustin his azz on pcq calls and voicemail while i did the bare minimum. Also I would not check voicemail for the first 3 or so hour, and less frequently at night. We had a ton of call ins (dentist office all day, acts like emergency and wont go to voicemail, then proceeds to phone in 4 amoxicillin 500mg like its the end of the world or something). I did make sure to get the voicemail at busy times of the day, but yeah some stores get way more phone ins so 15 mins isn't 100% reasonable at all stores when some stores have MD offices that don't know what a pharmacist voicemail is and phone in every single rx. Was exact opposite when I was an intern at Walmart; the doctor office cant call the pharmacist line directly and had to talk to a tech and be on hold for awhile, so they used to voicemail. I'll make sure to get the MD offices trained at my new job 🙂 One size fits all doesn't work in every instance. I had the pharmacy manager trained pretty well 🙂

 

[BMBiology]

If each store cuts $100 k in benefits and salary of pharmacist and technician and since cvs has about 7200 retail stores, that is a saving of $720 millions a year.

 

[sosoo]

if each store cuts all benefits and salaries entirely, then that is billions of dollars in savings. customers will go elsewhere for better service. employees will look elsewhere for jobs. no more customer /employee complaints. everyone benefits.

 

[owlegrad]

I will see your "cut all benefits and salary" and raise you "charge employees to work". Think of the shareholder value!

 

[BMBiology]

I can understand why people complain about CVS but you guys didn't see this coming?