Working holidays at CVS

[apteryx]

I'm a recent grad who has been a full-time staff pharmacist with CVS for 3 months now. I was scheduled to work Thanksgiving, which I didn't put up a fight with (I usually work Thursdays anyway). However, I got my schedule for December, and I'm working Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, and New Years Day. Am I wrong to flip my "poop" over being scheduled for every holiday at my store? My Wednesdays are hit or miss, so to say it's my normal schedule is a cop out.

Was I wrong in sending my scheduler a "harsh" email saying I feel that I'm being taken advantage of? Haven't had a chance to see the PIC yet, but is everyone just giving me the shaft, or is this business as usual at CVS? I don't see myself lasting long at this company...

Edit: And for the record, we aren't open on Christmas Day...but at this rate they probably would have scheduled me for it if we were!

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[NateRobinson]

Why even let it get to where you're sending a harsh email?

You may feel like you're being taken advantage of, but that's not necessarily what may be happening. Why don't you just call your scheduler and say "hey I noticed I'm working all the holidays this year...." And let him/her continue the conversation. Go from there. More than likely they'll cut a deal with you where you get one or two of those days off.

I always hate it when professionals resort to harsh emails before actually trying to fix the situation professionally first...

 

[Estrace]

I don't think they are taking advantage of you, most people get that treatment their first year. I worked thanksgivings eve, Christmas day, and New year my first year. This year, I have both thanksgiving and Christmas off.
There was no reason to send a hash email to the scheduler. If there is one person I'm nicest to, it's our market scheduler. It is at your best interest to friends with your scheduler. Mine gets me coverage every time I have asked no matter how last minute.

 

[ancienbon]

The harsh email was uncalled for. You should have tried to solve the issue professionally by letting her/him know that you want to get at least one holiday off .... I am sure they would be more than happy to help you out.

 

[Lnsean]

I'm a recent grad who has been a full-time staff pharmacist with CVS for 3 months now. I was scheduled to work Thanksgiving, which I didn't put up a fight with (I usually work Thursdays anyway). However, I got my schedule for December, and I'm working Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, and New Years Day. Am I wrong to flip my "poop" over being scheduled for every holiday at my store? My Wednesdays are hit or miss, so to say it's my normal schedule is a cop out.

Was I wrong in sending my scheduler a "harsh" email saying I feel that I'm being taken advantage of? Haven't had a chance to see the PIC yet, but is everyone just giving me the shaft, or is this business as usual at CVS? I don't see myself lasting long at this company...

Edit: And for the record, we aren't open on Christmas Day...but at this rate they probably would have scheduled me for it if we were!

Did you first attempt to call her and try to resolve this like the professional you are? Or did you just act like a 5 year old child?

 

[owlegrad]

They are taking advantage. You should be rotating holidays with your partner. Does the PIC not do the schedule?

 

[Lnsean]

They are taking advantage. You should be rotating holidays with your partner. Does the PIC not do the schedule?

The big chains have a scheduler that takes care of the scheduling for pharmacists. PIC or pharmacy managers do not have a say in that. You can try to work it out with your partner without them knowing if both of you are okay with it.

 

[apteryx]

Of course I asked to see if there was anyway to at least have the night shift of New Year's Eve off first before responding harshly. And by "harsh", I said that I felt I was being taken advantage of. It's a common courtesy to ask if someone will take every holiday shift, no? Or do you always eat whatever slop someone puts in front of you?

I always pick up extra shifts for her when she asks me. That's why I feel "used" for lack of a better word.

And I don't know what "professionals" you guys have dealt with, but this isn't my first job. Assuming one is going to be fine with working every holiday and not asking him is just a slap in the face and shows a complete disregard of their own schedule. But maybe some dissenters here lack respect for themselves...

 

[wagrxm2000]

Cvs sucks, Walgreens rotates and its volunteer on thanksgiving and Christmas at 24 hour stores. You are getting screwed

 

[owlegrad]

The big chains have a scheduler that takes care of the scheduling for pharmacists. PIC or pharmacy managers do not have a say in that. You can try to work it out with your partner without them knowing if both of you are okay with it.

False, I am a pharmacy manager at CVS and I write the schedule for me and my partner.

 

[Lnsean]

False, I am a pharmacy manager at CVS and I write the schedule for me and my partner.

At walgreens you cannot do this. You can do it "under the table" and work out a schedule with your partner but he better damn well stick to it. I don't how CVS lets all their managers make the schedule. I can see it being a total nightmare for unexpected coverages. But of course, I'm not going to argue that point because you work for CVS...so you should know more than I do about CVS.

 

[boriqua]

don't know a thing about cvs politics. but i imagine like in any job, the first year dudes have to go through an initiation and put in the blood sweat and tears to prove their worth. favorable schedules probably have to be earned and not just given to a snot-nosed new grad. that was a bitch move on your end by writing a harsh e-mail to your scheduler. a calm conversation is always the best way to go. and if that fails, just suck it up until you put in the work and they'll eventually give those hours to another new grad.

 

[type b pharmD]

At walgreens you cannot do this. You can do it "under the table" and work out a schedule with your partner but he better damn well stick to it. I don't how CVS lets all their managers make the schedule. I can see it being a total nightmare for unexpected coverages. But of course, I'm not going to argue that point because you work for CVS...so you should know more than I do about CVS.

You can't schedule staff for holidays ? Or are you talking about the fair scheduling thing

 

[Old Timer]

I am the Manager PIC at a CVS store and it's up to the partners to work it out. Several weeks in advance the scheduler will ask who is working in the upcoming Holiday. We split the Holidays . I work Easter, Thanksgiving and New Years Day. My partner works Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day. We are closed Christmas. You are getting screwed holiday wise, but you make a **** load of money especially if you are not scheduled to be on that day.

We have a rotating 2 week schedule with two three floating shifts every 2 weeks.

 

[HouTX]

my PIC at CVS sucked. she scheduled me all holidays and mainly evening shifts. I didn't write any harsh emails or even asked her what the deal was. I knew I wasn't going to be at CVS for long so I just took my lumps. worked 6 months and found another job. rx supervisor tried to move me to another store with a bump in pay but I took a pay cut to get outta dodge. best move I ever made

 

[Lnsean]

You can't schedule staff for holidays ? Or are you talking about the fair scheduling thing

My holiday schedule is set by the district scheduler. I only confirm who's going to be there. It is usually split evenly between my partner and I. It is a a pre-made list that comes down to us at the end of each year for next year's schedule. Obviously, people come and go and the list is updated accordingly but never by the rxms but by the scheduler.

I've only ever worked in one district and never questioned it. Thought it was common practice since wags is a big corporations---these things are probably standard operating procedures.

 

[type b pharmD]

My holiday schedule is set by the district scheduler. I only confirm who's going to be there. It is usually split evenly between my partner and I. It is a a pre-made list that comes down to us at the end of each year for next year's schedule. Obviously, people come and go and the list is updated accordingly but never by the rxms but by the scheduler.

I've only ever worked in one district and never questioned it. Thought it was common practice since wags is a big corporations---these things are probably standard operating procedures.

Ahh.. yeah I think this is true for my store too.

 

[KARM12]

I would figure out what is considered a "holiday" at your chain. In the hospital, our only holidays are NYD, Xmas, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, July 4th, and Memorial Day. Xmas eve and NY eve are not considered holidays.

 

[mustang sally]

I would figure out what is considered a "holiday" at your chain. In the hospital, our only holidays are NYD, Xmas, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, July 4th, and Memorial Day. Xmas eve and NY eve are not considered holidays.

That's what I was thinking. Christmas eve and New Year's eve have not been considered holidays anywhere I have ever worked. Maybe the scheduler thought it was fair because you got Christmas off so it's like every other holiday...

 

[BidingMyTime]

That's what I was thinking. Christmas eve and New Year's eve have not been considered holidays anywhere I have ever worked. Maybe the scheduler thought it was fair because you got Christmas off so it's like every other holiday...

This. I have never worked at a place that consider Christmas Eve/New Year's Eve holidays. I can't imagine any employer for pharmacists that would consider these holidays, and many non-medical employers also do not consider those holidays. Many times people are able to trade shifts with another pharmacist in these situations....like if you had the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off, you could offer to work that if another pharmacist would work Christmas Eve for you. But if nobody will trade with you, that is how it works out. Working every other holiday (Thanksgiving & New Year's Day) is pretty common in pharmacy. Sending a harsh letter to your scheduler is unwarranted, and unfortunately, s/he will probably make sure you end up working every Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve for the rest of your there at CVS.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

At CVS, PICs/ and Staff works it out. Holidays should be divided evenly even if you are a new grad.... if your PIC is doing otherwise, confront him and tell him it is not fair to you. Talk it out professionally. If you guys cant resolve it, ask your supervisor to work it out.

For 24 hours, it is awesome because I have more than one partner. So... we divide the holidays so we have free vacations, or divide the day into 2 - 6 hour shifts....

I prefer to work the holiday 6 hours shift because 1. its dead. 2. my 6 hours is from 8a- 2p. I can get out and spend time with my family afterwards. 3.I do not have to work the full shift (usually 10-12 hours) the next day when it is busier.

Technically we are suppose to move our overlap to another day to make up the hours but no 24 hour stores that I know of do this.

 

[FarmD711]

The big chains have a scheduler that takes care of the scheduling for pharmacists. PIC or pharmacy managers do not have a say in that. You can try to work it out with your partner without them knowing if both of you are okay with it.

This is not correct. PICs at CVS make the pharmacist schedules, not the market scheduler. Of course the partner's must agree but it is all done in building with the RxSup only stepping in in the event of a conflict/disagreement between PIC and Staff RPh