Working off clock?

[CheeseBroccoli]

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I'm a new rph. I have heard stories where some rph would come in early and stay late. Is that consider off clock? I am getting paid hourly, and my pharmacy is short on hours. Is it okay for me to come in 1-2 hours early everyday to clean up and catch up?

I am also going to be the PIC soon, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[ExpressMaiL]

You will be taken advantage of if you do that. However, you will have above-average metrics if you do this consistently.

 

[lionheart555]

As someone that has watched a PIC, 2 night pharmacists, and a staff pharmacist slowly lose their happiness and general positive attitude over stress and a sense of being unappreciated, I'd encourage you to not do this. A manager I know started at her store very optimistic and wanted to help everyone. She would stay 20-30 minutes after her hours to help the night staff clean up. 5 years later? She's out the door the moment her shift ends and her previous optimism is all but gone. But I think it also depends on where you are working. Is it an independent? Are you working for a chain? Are you union (they may have policies against this)? Does your company have policies on OT work? What is the benefit to you working extra (sense of accomplishment, meeting numbers, helping out the next pharmacist, extra pay?)

 

[confettiflyer]

Don't do it.

 

[Rukn]

if you're hourly I would do it

never for salaried

 

[Dred Pirate]

screw it - not worth it to do in consistently - you will get taken advantage off - and in some states, if you are hourly, that is a huge no no - you can get fired very quickly

 

[ldiot]

You could come in 30-45 minutes early to get a head start but I wouldn't stay late unless the pharmacy was a total disaster.

 

[gwarm01]

You could come in 30-45 minutes early to get a head start but I wouldn't stay late unless the pharmacy was a total disaster.

I wouldn't do it unless I was on the clock. My previous job was very clear that we were not to work off the clock because if a mistake was made it would be a big problem for the hospital.

 

[Varianiq]

I had a rotation at CVS where a PIC and a staff pharmacist would stay and work 1-2 hr off the clock every day. It was pretty sad to watch.

 

[bulldog1123]

When I was a tech I stayed back a couple times to help the pharmacist off the clock when the pharmacy closed and a patient complained to corporate and I got written up.

 

[CheeseBroccoli]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the replies. Here is more to my situation. I was hired last year in one of the big chain retails last year. After 3 months of floating, I was put into one of the worst store in the district as a staff. In the beginning, I would OT to make sure the patients get their medications on time. Then the corporate told me that I could get terminated for that. So I stopped doing that; as a result, the pharmacy slowly falls behind. The PDM refuses to give us more hours to catch up because the budget hours are based on the script count.

Because of this, I have been working off clock whenever I can ,and using my lunch break to catch up. My current manager is leaving soon for 3 months, so I am expected to become the PIC during that time. I am pretty stressed about the whole situation, but my main concern is patients getting their medications on time. Currently, we are 2 days behind, and it doesn't help when I get 1-2 tech call outs per week. 80% of the customers are yelling at me despite all of my efforts, and sometimes I want to stop caring about the pharmacy and just do my 9-5, but its the appreciations from the rest 20% customers that is keeping me going.

At this point, I already accepted the fact that I might get fired for this. I'm just wondering how long before they catch me working off the clock.

PS- I am in Union, but I'm not sure how much they will help, I am working off clock just to help out the patients and the pharmacy

 

[PharmtoCS]

You're most likely to get fired for the following reasons (in that order):

1) Working off the clock
2) Using too much OT
3) Not meeting other metrics

In this case I would avoid #1.

 

[lionheart555]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the replies. Here is more to my situation. I was hired last year in one of the big chain retails last year. After 3 months of floating, I was put into one of the worst store in the district as a staff. In the beginning, I would OT to make sure the patients get their medications on time. Then the corporate told me that I could get terminated for that. So I stopped doing that; as a result, the pharmacy slowly falls behind. The PDM refuses to give us more hours to catch up because the budget hours are based on the script count.

Because of this, I have been working off clock whenever I can ,and using my lunch break to catch up. My current manager is leaving soon for 3 months, so I am expected to become the PIC during that time. I am pretty stressed about the whole situation, but my main concern is patients getting their medications on time. Currently, we are 2 days behind, and it doesn't help when I get 1-2 tech call outs per week. 80% of the customers are yelling at me despite all of my efforts, and sometimes I want to stop caring about the pharmacy and just do my 9-5, but its the appreciations from the rest 20% customers that is keeping me going.

At this point, I already accepted the fact that I might get fired for this. I'm just wondering how long before they catch me working off the clock.

PS- I am in Union, but I'm not sure how much they will help, I am working off clock just to help out the patients and the pharmacy

If the issue is your technicians (I know it's not just that), I would say work with your union to help you with tech scheduling and no shows better. In the company I work for, we received support from our union to have the company mandate all hired technicians work a certain number of hours weekly. I'll point out that it wasn't limited tech hours that hurt us but that techs didn't make themselves available enough.

Also the store began to support the PIC disciplining technicians that would not show up or kept calling off and not finding coverage.

 

[eagles22]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the replies. Here is more to my situation. I was hired last year in one of the big chain retails last year. After 3 months of floating, I was put into one of the worst store in the district as a staff. In the beginning, I would OT to make sure the patients get their medications on time. Then the corporate told me that I could get terminated for that. So I stopped doing that; as a result, the pharmacy slowly falls behind. The PDM refuses to give us more hours to catch up because the budget hours are based on the script count.

Because of this, I have been working off clock whenever I can ,and using my lunch break to catch up. My current manager is leaving soon for 3 months, so I am expected to become the PIC during that time. I am pretty stressed about the whole situation, but my main concern is patients getting their medications on time. Currently, we are 2 days behind, and it doesn't help when I get 1-2 tech call outs per week. 80% of the customers are yelling at me despite all of my efforts, and sometimes I want to stop caring about the pharmacy and just do my 9-5, but its the appreciations from the rest 20% customers that is keeping me going.

At this point, I already accepted the fact that I might get fired for this. I'm just wondering how long before they catch me working off the clock.

PS- I am in Union, but I'm not sure how much they will help, I am working off clock just to help out the patients and the pharmacy

Can you turn down the promotion to PIC?

 

[rph3664]

I'm a new rph. I have heard stories where some rph would come in early and stay late. Is that consider off clock? I am getting paid hourly, and my pharmacy is short on hours. Is it okay for me to come in 1-2 hours early everyday to clean up and catch up?

I am also going to be the PIC soon, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

If you are an hourly employee, it is ILLEGAL for you to work off the clock.

Don't do it, just for this reason alone.

 

[Sine Cura]

If you become temp PIC and have latitude to get rid of techs, you could use that to your advantage. If techs don't show up what is the point of keeping them aside from letting them bleed off any sick pay?

 

[ldiot]

If you are hourly and have already received a warning than you absolutely should not work off the clock. You need to look at other ways of improving your efficiency or start looking for another job.

In all honesty if you are truly 2 full days behind then the best case scenario is that they keep you as staff and bring in a brand new manager. Hopefully the new manager is great and can turn the store around. Worst case scenario is that they are already looking for someone to replace both you and the current manager. I doubt that they will offer you the manager position if you are part of a sinking ship.

 

[metformin87]

Only work off the clock as a PIC to keep your regulatory stuff in check. You may have to stay late to make sure regulatory box is in good shape, clean pharmacy, etc.

Do not fill any prescriptions off the clock. It's just silly and you will regret later on down the road

 

[ornithoptor]

Many people have posted their responses from compliance, legal and wage prospectives. The only post that contains the word "PATIENT" came from the comments made by the original poster. You have my deepest thanks.

We all are burdened by student loan, mortgages, family....., but it helps to remember our true north once a while: patient cares and needs. That being said, don't ever let multi-billion dollars profit driven company take advantage of you. Cutting tech hours to have pharmacist do more are putting patients and pharmacists at risk for financial gain.

Don't lose your integrity and don't compromise.

Good Luck



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[cj98]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the replies. Here is more to my situation. I was hired last year in one of the big chain retails last year. After 3 months of floating, I was put into one of the worst store in the district as a staff. In the beginning, I would OT to make sure the patients get their medications on time. Then the corporate told me that I could get terminated for that. So I stopped doing that; as a result, the pharmacy slowly falls behind. The PDM refuses to give us more hours to catch up because the budget hours are based on the script count.

Because of this, I have been working off clock whenever I can ,and using my lunch break to catch up. My current manager is leaving soon for 3 months, so I am expected to become the PIC during that time. I am pretty stressed about the whole situation, but my main concern is patients getting their medications on time. Currently, we are 2 days behind, and it doesn't help when I get 1-2 tech call outs per week. 80% of the customers are yelling at me despite all of my efforts, and sometimes I want to stop caring about the pharmacy and just do my 9-5, but its the appreciations from the rest 20% customers that is keeping me going.

At this point, I already accepted the fact that I might get fired for this. I'm just wondering how long before they catch me working off the clock.

PS- I am in Union, but I'm not sure how much they will help, I am working off clock just to help out the patients and the pharmacy

Then just let the work and complaints pile up and hopefully someone from district will see that you guys are struggling to catch up. Let district see that what they expect you to accomplish/finish is unrealistic. This usually leads to authorization of overtime or hiring of more staff in my experience.

 

[CheeseBroccoli]

Thank you everyone who commented and offered advice, it makes me feel a lot better than before. I had already promised the PDM that I would do my best to make the pharmacy better, so I am still going to be the PIC. After spending the past couple days thinking, I am more optimistic. I also manage to clear all the faxes and paper prescriptions during the weekend, so I just have to focus on data entry and count & fill.

Currently this is what an average day is like at the pharmacy. If you have any insight or advice for me, I greatly appreciate it.

8:00-9:30 1 tech, 1 rph (total: 40-60 rx)

This time is the 2nd most crucial time of the day. I don't get many patients at this hour, so I can push as many rx out as possible. About 40-50 prescriptions gets filled at this time. One tech would be at the drop off window typing the whole time and answering phone, while I get the pick up window, QA, count & fill and answering phone.
​

9:30-12:00 2 techs, 1 rph (total: 120-160 rx)

When the 2nd tech comes in, I have the 2nd tech check in the order (scan new shipments into the inventory), and pull the go backs (13 days go back). Occasionally when I'm backed up at the pick up, I will have the 2nd tech help me. On average, I count, fill and QA one order for every customer I help at the pick up.
​

12:00-4:30 3 techs, 2 rph (total: 200-250 rx)

Nonstop line at pick up window and drop off window. I have 1 tech at the cash register, 1 at drop off window, and 1 counting and filling prescription. My job is QAing the waiters' rx, making calls to the Dr, and handling difficult patients. The manager usually goes to the office to do PIC stuff, but if the manager is around to QA, I would jump in to count and fill as well. This is the most important part of the day, we would try to take care of all the trouble shooting and push the rx count up.
​

4:30-8:30 2 techs, 1 rph (total: 250-300 rx)

Nonstop line at the pick up window and drop off window. Second rph leaves. If I'm closing, then I have 1 tech at pick up and 1 tech at drop off, and I tried to count & fill, answer phone, and QA as much as I can. This is usually the most stressful part of the day.
​

8:30-10:00 1 tech, 1 rph (total: 300-350 rx)

Still busy at the drop off and pick up window. At this point, I am just trying to get all the waiters out before the pharmacy closes. Around 30 minutes before closing, I have the tech clean up the pharmacy while I do everything else.​

Currently at our drop off window, the tech takes rx, writes down DOB & pt number on rx, give 20 minutes to 2 hours wait time, takes next rx and repeat. The drop off window person also handles trouble shooting and data entry. A problem is that prescriptions would get stack up, and patients coming back either found out that it's not ready or that there was an issue with insurance, doctor or the prescription itself. What I want to do when I become the PIC is to have tech type up, process, and pull the medications while the patient is there. This would ensure that there is no problem or troubleshooting at the pick up; however, a main drawback is that I only have 1 tech that type fast, so I'm thinking maybe if an order has 3 or more items, then we can write down the wait time and process later.

Sorry for the long post, but typing all this out really helps me think about the workflow.​

 

[Sine Cura]

QT is the key to everything. Your techs are probably collectively too slow. When you mention having to catch up on the weekend, that is not a recipe for success.

TBH I probably did at least 20% of inputs and QT in general at CVS. I didn't see one mention of QT.

 

[RxPreceptor]

Yes, QT is top priority; techs do not always seem to get this concept & are more concerned about production. Ideally, the tech @ drop off needs to bill at least 1 of multiple scripts before the patient walks off & definitely needs to bill drugs that are prone to insurance dilemmas before the patient walks away. For evening hours, it's a must for the RPh to do some of QT; techs will be more inclined to help out if you are willing to help on QT as well (seems less daunting of a task if he/she can hand off the insurance rejects to the RPh).

I would suggest getting the day 14s out of the way at a time to best benefit your store's schedule (away from peak production times). At least to cut down on the confusion of where non-existent RTS vials are (one person at production, one person doing RTS in a remote area).

 

[CountBy5s]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the replies. Here is more to my situation. I was hired last year in one of the big chain retails last year. After 3 months of floating, I was put into one of the worst store in the district as a staff. In the beginning, I would OT to make sure the patients get their medications on time. Then the corporate told me that I could get terminated for that. So I stopped doing that; as a result, the pharmacy slowly falls behind. The PDM refuses to give us more hours to catch up because the budget hours are based on the script count.

Because of this, I have been working off clock whenever I can ,and using my lunch break to catch up. My current manager is leaving soon for 3 months, so I am expected to become the PIC during that time. I am pretty stressed about the whole situation, but my main concern is patients getting their medications on time. Currently, we are 2 days behind, and it doesn't help when I get 1-2 tech call outs per week. 80% of the customers are yelling at me despite all of my efforts, and sometimes I want to stop caring about the pharmacy and just do my 9-5, but its the appreciations from the rest 20% customers that is keeping me going.

At this point, I already accepted the fact that I might get fired for this. I'm just wondering how long before they catch me working off the clock.

PS- I am in Union, but I'm not sure how much they will help, I am working off clock just to help out the patients and the pharmacy

Wow this sounds like my pharmacy to the T . ... I am slowly turning this pharmacy around but I think the PIC is just so burnt out that his give a **** is completely busted. But we are improving now that he has a staff that at least cares.. I doubt district/corporate will ever have the devine epiphany that you seek, or give your the tools and resources you need. Work for your patient's. Do the best you can do and if you find youself losing your soul start looking for another gig. Good luck.

 

[CheeseBroccoli]

A quick updates on the pharmacy: the past couple days we had more call outs and the pharmacy was a mess. I managed to push all the data entry, fax, written rx into Ready to Fill (which is QP in CVS, I think), and things were going well. I came back after my day off, and everything was in a mess again. I had asked my PDM to give me a staff rph, but it looks like no one wants to staff at my store. As a result, I get all the floater rph who dont give a ****. This is also my first week being the PIC, so the first thing I did was to give my strong technicians max hours and cut my problematic technicians down to minimum hours. I could tell a few people were pissed. I felt bad but I got to keep the ship afloat. On top of that, I know there are 1 or 2 techs who are purposely trying to ruin the pharmacy, I had found stack of electronic rx printout that we're suppose to fill & store in the trash 6 times in the past 3 months. C3-C5 meds in the wrong shelf or hidden away behind other meds. It's a mess, and I need to figure out a way fix this problem before something goes horribly wrong.

I took the advice of focusing on Data Entry and Declines (which is the equivalent of QT in CVS term), it does help a bit, but I am a bit confuse to why QT is more important than fax rx and written rx? From my limited experiences, I noticed that when patients check with us to see if the doctor had send in their rx, it usually takes a while for the tech to go through the faxes and written rx. If it's sent electronically, it only takes a second to look it up and process. I also noticed when the faxes start pilling up, my tech would stop caring about the faxes and focus only on the electronic and written rx. At the end of the day I would have 50 faxes rx that no one touch. Hope someone can clarify that for me.

As usual, I really appreciate all the feedback. Thanks

 

[6GodPharm]

A quick updates on the pharmacy: the past couple days we had more call outs and the pharmacy was a mess. I managed to push all the data entry, fax, written rx into Ready to Fill (which is QP in CVS, I think), and things were going well. I came back after my day off, and everything was in a mess again. I had asked my PDM to give me a staff rph, but it looks like no one wants to staff at my store. As a result, I get all the floater rph who dont give a ****. This is also my first week being the PIC, so the first thing I did was to give my strong technicians max hours and cut my problematic technicians down to minimum hours. I could tell a few people were pissed. I felt bad but I got to keep the ship afloat. On top of that, I know there are 1 or 2 techs who are purposely trying to ruin the pharmacy, I had found stack of electronic rx printout that we're suppose to fill & store in the trash 6 times in the past 3 months. C3-C5 meds in the wrong shelf or hidden away behind other meds. It's a mess, and I need to figure out a way fix this problem before something goes horribly wrong.

I took the advice of focusing on Data Entry and Declines (which is the equivalent of QT in CVS term), it does help a bit, but I am a bit confuse to why QT is more important than fax rx and written rx? From my limited experiences, I noticed that when patients check with us to see if the doctor had send in their rx, it usually takes a while for the tech to go through the faxes and written rx. If it's sent electronically, it only takes a second to look it up and process. I also noticed when the faxes start pilling up, my tech would stop caring about the faxes and focus only on the electronic and written rx. At the end of the day I would have 50 faxes rx that no one touch. Hope someone can clarify that for me.

As usual, I really appreciate all the feedback. Thanks

First step to fix a pharmacy is to make sure everyone realizes call outs are unacceptable. Put the schedule put 3 weeks in advance and document call outs. What gets people in trouble is caring to much about the techs personal life. It's a business, come to work or take a leave to care of whatever crap you got going on. Don't be afraid to move on from old unmotivated techs.

Second is scheduling. I schedule heavy in the morning to make sure 9pm's are pushed out by 11am and everything else in the que. This also ensures RTS and order is checked in and verified by Noon. Rest of the day is pretty smooth sailing. Just need to worry about QT and Drop offs once you push the ques. We do about 300 by Noon and are able to get all ques down to a page or so.

Third is make sure your staff understands all ques must be clear by the end of the night. Nothing left to type. This is pretty easy to do because the whole day you are making sure the ques stay clean especially because the first 2 hours of the day is your chance to crank out as many rx's as possible.

 

[M0df]

So your first mistake was not making sure you RxSup provides you someone solid as a staff pharmacist while your old PIC is gone, not that she will even come back. That ship might have sailed and you might be stuck with floaters for the next 3+ months. Why would any of your techs work harder to compensate for terrible floaters.

It also doesn't look good if someone is trying to sabotage your pharmacy and your license basically. That is a serious issue and I don't know what kind of support you have on district level to even start fixing that type of concern. Also, we do not know resources available at your disposal. In some stores I worked at, I had hard time finding anyone to hire.

Lastly, I don't see how you can differentiate importance of faxes versus electronic scripts. It is a lot easier to enter electronic script but not if you have a stack of faxes/written scripts not entered. If anything, faxed scripts not dropped into the system means you have ZERO visibility on those scripts. You spend more time arguing with customers and answering phone calls about missing scripts than actually filling them.

It sounds like you are trying to do everything yourself. That is only a short term fix at best. You had experience floating in your district. You have seen how well managed stores operate. That should give you good idea on what needs to be fixed.

 

[Hulkbuster333]

Why don't you write them up for throwing away the escripts? Write them up for call offs too.

 

[Dalteparin]

I wouldn't do it unless I was on the clock. My previous job was very clear that we were not to work off the clock because if a mistake was made it would be a big problem for the hospital.

Not to mention that not paying people for the work they do is illegal. Show up early if you must, OP, but if you're hourly, punch in.


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