Working Overtime

[nichiee]

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Hi all,

I've worked for a retail pharmacy for a while and I recently transferred to a new store. I work night shifts and after we close shop, the pharmacist will have us clock out and keep working to fill orders for the next day or tie up loose ends/rejects. She does this in order to prevent any overtime issues with corporate. I've told her before that I'm not used to not getting paid for my overtime, so I'd rather not, but then my new co-workers don't think I'm a team player, and my pharmacy manager started giving me less hours, and crappy ones too. Since I'm new to the store I'm not really sure how I should address this, and was wondering if anyone has had to deal with a similar situation, and how you dealt. Thanks for your time =).

 

[cdhoward]

Hi all,

I've worked for a retail pharmacy for a while and I recently transferred to a new store. I work night shifts and after we close shop, the pharmacist will have us clock out and keep working to fill orders for the next day or tie up loose ends/rejects. She does this in order to prevent any overtime issues with corporate. I've told her before that I'm not used to not getting paid for my overtime, so I'd rather not, but then my new co-workers don't think I'm a team player, and my pharmacy manager started giving me less hours, and crappy ones too. Since I'm new to the store I'm not really sure how I should address this, and was wondering if anyone has had to deal with a similar situation, and how you dealt. Thanks for your time =).

Go to the district manager. This is illegal. If you work - you should be paid. Labor laws will protect you. I'm sure she is trying to not get in trouble with payroll issues, but its certainly not your fault. She's the one who is salaried. Its ok for her to stay and work, but not you off the clock.

 

[fhx06]

Go to the district manager. This is illegal. If you work - you should be paid. Labor laws will protect you. I'm sure she is trying to not get in trouble with payroll issues, but its certainly not your fault. She's the one who is salaried. Its ok for her to stay and work, but not you off the clock.

Agreed. Donating your time is one thing but not being paid for mandatory overtime is completely different. Also, the pharmacist would still run into trouble if some accident or injury occurs during these times when you are technically no longer working.

 

[Sparda29]

That's illegal, either stay clocked-in and work, or when your time comes to leave, you leave. She can't fire you for that.

 

[cdhoward]

Agreed. Donating your time is one thing but not being paid for mandatory overtime is completely different. Also, the pharmacist would still run into trouble if some accident or injury occurs during these times when you are technically no longer working.

I guess it depends on who you work for concerning 'donating' time. I worked for Walmart a few years and it was an absolute no-no. They didn't care if you were willing to donate your time off the clock. If you were working, you had to be on the clock. In fact, you couldn't even sign into the cash register if you were not clocked in.

 

[Storm90]

Where I work now, I am willing to give up to 15 min extra if needed, anything over and above is overtime and I insist on it. If the pharmacist is unwilling to pay you for your effort, you leave. They are legally required to pay you.

 

[bgbulldog]

I agree with what everyone else has said. It is illegal for your boss to make you work over off of the clock. If you don't feel confortable talking to the manager go over their heads to HR. I know I work for Rite Aid and they have cut tech hours down to a minimum, but the bottom line is when it is time to go home you clock out and leave, or they have to pay you to stay. Next time your boss tells you to stay and wants you to clock out. Refuse to do it. If they threaten you inform them that it is against the law, and against company policy. If he/she is still persistent inform that you have talked to the national labor board and EEOC and it would be in their best interest to obey the law. Either way you are probably going to be blacked balled, but you have to stand up for your rights. (yea the whole Bob Marley/Eric Clapton thing!!!) In the end the issue needs to be addressed and you will probably have to take it to someone with more authority.

personal note: I spent several years working in a factory and had an issue similar to yours. It is a difficult situation to address, but it is worth it. Even if you end up quiting after it is all said and done, someone needs to do it. I am a hardworker and used to work 60 hours a week but my boss used to want me to stay over and finish projects. Trust me if you tell them that you called the EEOC, or labor board, which you should do just to get the facts, not necessarily to report it, they will clam up real quick and change their tone. Once again, I would only pursue this avenue after all else has failed, i.e. talking with a manager or HR.

 

[trailrider400]

That is a tough situation. Its clearly illegal but I'm sure you want to be welcomed by the rest of the staff. I don't know if I can really add much to the other comments here but if I were you I'd just pull the pharmacy manager aside some time and ask to talk to them privately. Then you can use the advice of everyone else here without making a scene. Try to discuss it first before resorting to any threats. Like the other person said tell them its illegal and against policy. But all in all thats complete bull shyt and there is no way in hell I would clock out and work for free.

 

[Sparda29]

That is a tough situation. Its clearly illegal but I'm sure you want to be welcomed by the rest of the staff. I don't know if I can really add much to the other comments here but if I were you I'd just pull the pharmacy manager aside some time and ask to talk to them privately. Then you can use the advice of everyone else here without making a scene. Try to discuss it first before resorting to any threats. Like the other person said tell them its illegal and against policy. But all in all thats complete bull shyt and there is no way in hell I would clock out and work for free.

Agreed, I don't mind working a few extra minutes, but I'm getting paid for those.

 

[HmoobRX]

I only clock out if I know the pharmacist is about to go out the door. Our hours have been cut too but if the pharmacist is still there at the end of the night cleaning up I'll put in my part too. If I'm done with my part and he says go ahead and leave that's when I punch out. If I've worked my scheduled hours and really have to leave no one has a problem or if I've already clocked I'm told to go. I agree with the person who said pharmacist are salaried. I work for a high volume store and our pharmacists either stay a little later or come in a little earlier. They never make techs or interns stay unless it's necessary and you bet you it'll be paid time too.

 

[keepingthehope]

I clock out when I put on my jacket and about to exit the store and do not stay a minute longer. 8 hours there is long enough, considering you're going to school as well. Maybe you can present her with the possibility of legal action for exploitation, see if she gets scared into giving you back your hours.

 

[thephoenician88]

Hi all,

I've worked for a retail pharmacy for a while and I recently transferred to a new store. I work night shifts and after we close shop, the pharmacist will have us clock out and keep working to fill orders for the next day or tie up loose ends/rejects. She does this in order to prevent any overtime issues with corporate.

that's BS i don't care what the reason is, giving up that much time to help tie loose ends? I wouldn't mind staying 15 mins, that's as much as i'll stay though. Perhaps the pharmacist should be a better time manager.

 

[thephoenician88]

bring this to the store managers attention so he'll talk to the pharmacist. If it continues/she becomes unfair, escalate.

 

[trailrider400]

bring this to the store managers attention so he'll talk to the pharmacist. If it continues/she becomes unfair, escalate.

That wouldn't be my first step. Keep in mind that you'll probably be asking for a LOR from this person you report to the store manager Try to talk to the manager about it first and then go to the manager if it ends up coming to that. But like I said I wouldn't take that crap. If nothing else keep working there and try to find different job.

 

[trailrider400]

wow i'm tired... did my last post make sense to anyone cus i don't know what the hell i was trying to say

 

[Nelson]

I want you to get up, all of you get up get up out of your chairs, I want you to get up and walk over to the window, open it and stick your head out and yell "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

 

[thephoenician88]

I want you to get up, all of you get up get up out of your chairs, I want you to get up and walk over to the window, open it and stick your head out and yell "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

hahah awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dib2-HBsF08

 

[nichiee]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses, I truly appreciate all your help =). After some deliberation I've decided I'll contact HR first and discuss the best way to go about it. I'm not familiar with my district manager yet, but I'll figure out how to contact him too. Again, thanks all!

 

[FlavyFlav]

Be careful going so high up the chain without reporting to your store manager. Most of them will tell you to follow the chain even with so-called open door policies. Besides, you don't want to blindside anyone with this or it could come out worse for you. Office politicking is a tricky area, but it can be done.

You have much in favor, I'm sure just asking your store manager why you're being asked to punch out while still being asked to work will raise a big flag with them. Your pharmacist may not care, but your manager knows all about payroll laws and probably doesn't want to deal with the resulting claims. This will result in the manager doing all the work for you and they are not supposed to disclose who originally reported the act. You have rights and you'll garner more respect by standing up for yourself than succumbing to someone else's wishes to benefit themselves at the expense of others.

You may even be able to come to a compromise, or figure out why the problems are happening and correct that in the first place.

As a side note, any pharmacist that attempts to coerce me in this way is not going to be on top of my list to ask for an LoR. If they do this to your face, I can only imagine how they'd behave in a private letter.

Good luck.

 

[Hendlefe]

Sometimes I'll clock out and continue working but not more than 10 minutes. I'm not a super hard ass about the exact minutes of working and conversely they let me bend rules as well. Like I can take a break whenever I want and sometimes I'll go outside and shop around if it's slow. Also I dont wear a tie most of the time 🙂