Monday, June 16, 2014

Pharmacy IS a Game of Thrones

A friend of mine also works for Goofmart Pharmacy on the other side of town. Several years ago his pharmacy was all by itself and enjoyed the fruits of all the pharmacy business in the area. Since that time, urban sprawl has caused several competing pharmacies (including two more Goofmart pharmacies) to build within a ten mile radius. My friend's pharmacy has dealt with declining business since that time. The increase in population growth has been outpaced by new pharmacies available. There's more competition than necessary and they all split the pie with thin slices. (Supply exceeds demand, for you economists)

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would be able to see this. Ah, but that's where our renowned pharmacy director steps in. The director recently made a personal visit to my friend's pharmacy and told him:


"You have three months to turn things around, otherwise you will be put into the float pool."

The float pool is Goofmart Pharmacy's way of forcing you to quit without firing you. You get put into a group with other floaters. Your hours may be 40 one week, 55 another week, but most often less than 40. That's not reasonable so most people put into the float pool are forced to quit.

I'm inclined to think the pharmacy director can't really be so stupid as to think my friend can "turn things around" in three months OR that sales have declined because of his management. I know my friend well. He runs a tight ship and provides top notch pharmacy service. That keeps a lot of people coming back, but there's still others that will accept moderate service for convenience. That's just a fact. Surely the director must know this. And yet, with so many other blunders with this company, it wouldn't surprise me at all to think he really is just that stupid.

Or is he? Now here's the rub... a devious rub...


Herr Director has been slicing out "contrary voices" among our region's pharmacies for about a year now. If you're someone who has an opinion or expresses displeasure with new mandates, sooner or later you're "eliminated" in one way or another. It's not just pharmacists. One of our regional pharmacy managers quit under extremely suspicious circumstances. The word on the street is that this manager disagreed with the director and he forced the manager out. It's corporate assassination at it's finest.

As you recently graduated pharmacists take your exams and prepare for your career in retail, just remember this:

Politics. Game-playing. Silenced voices. Mysterious changes in management. Threats. Odd complaints from other company employees. Double-secret probation. Cats and dogs, living together. Metrics. Quake-N-Zap. Honey Badger don't care... Worthless "bonus" plans. Mind-reading Skills required. Unreasonable expectations. Do more with less. 



This is what makes up retail pharmacy now. The Lannisters send their regards.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

They want you around for as long as they feel that they need you, not one minute longer. Always have a backup plan. Network at association meetings and CE events with the assumption that you could be seeking a new position at any time. Welcome to the new normal!

pharmaciststeve said...

There is going to be an estimated 3000 more grads this year than needed.. These grads are going to have to start making payments on those six figure student loans in 9 months..they are going to start out if few benefits.. younger employees - lower health benefit costs than older.. the newbies.. don't understand "business rules/laws" and are very pliable and eager to please.. you know.. the employer will take care of you and has your back.. They are a "PharmDeity" pts will love their ability to help them manage their health. the last BSPharm will soon be turning 40.. I have seen Senior/Legacy Pharmacists - 10 yr+ service and 45+.. accused of illegal things - that can't be proven.. so that they can be shoved out the door.. after all - they believe - that all the people coming thru the front door is doing so because of the corporate name on the front door.. the people in the Rx dept are pretty much as expendable as any other piece of equipment in the dept

Anonymous said...

...and don't get pregnant. During my last maternity leave I was moved from staff pharmacist to float pool....Tywin Lannister would be a shoe-in for corporate pharmacy, only with brains. Most appear as stupid and singleminded as Viserys Targaryan and as stuck in a tower as Lysa Arryn.

Anonymous said...

Things are just as bad in the hospital laboratory world with the important difference of not enough new grads to fill vacancies. Times everywhere are getting more GoT-ish, I guess. Or maybe it's Alice in Wonderland, I'm not sure...

Anonymous said...

OMG. It's not just our managers who do this?