tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817205780911729159.post3814496449232407604..comments2023-06-25T06:35:00.953-04:00Comments on Retail Pharmacy, Life, and General Lunacy: Work is for workPharmacy Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988761844897996541noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817205780911729159.post-13756300213023943042007-11-18T11:44:00.000-05:002007-11-18T11:44:00.000-05:00I suppose you'd have to know our situation to unde...I suppose you'd have to know our situation to understand just how incredible of a job our pharmacy manager has done over the last 6 months. In June, the pharmacy manager who had been at my store for 23 years was transferred to another store (for a variety of reasons). This new manager was brought in, and he has completely changed the way the store operates... and all for the better! We used to have hour waits for prescriptions. Now, nobody waits more than 20 minutes. We were the most disorganized pharmacy you'd ever seen. Now, we're a freaking model of organization and efficiency.<BR/><BR/>Other pharmacists and employees are complaining about Betty (we're a 4 pharmacist store). I have my complaints, and I've voiced them, but I'm not going to threaten to quit over them. The manager knows there's a problem. He knows she doesn't pull as much weight as the rest of the staff. However, there's not much he can do about it because none of it is really worth firing her over. It's just frustrating, and when you add in just how annoying her personality is, all of us just want her out of here.<BR/><BR/>In any case, this blog is for me to vent my frustrations. I'll survive at work with or without Betty. I just need a place to vent, and this is it.<BR/><BR/>Besides, I talk about a lot of stuff I would never mention in person. I guess that's the point of a blog.<BR/><BR/>I understand what you're saying though. Thanks for the comments.Pharmacy Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06988761844897996541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817205780911729159.post-28756814998548817522007-11-18T11:20:00.000-05:002007-11-18T11:20:00.000-05:00Then tell the manager to start managing the staff,...Then tell the manager to start managing the staff, and if he/she won't do anything about what's happening go to your District Manager or Pharmacy Supervisor and discuss the problem with them. In any case, whoever is the pharmacist on duty is the one in charge that day if the manager is out. If there are 2 of you staff pharmacists and one is slacking off, it's up to the other one to set them straight. That's just the way it is Mike, whether you like it or not. Left alone, Betsy will continue this behavior. You can also threaten to quit over the issue if no one is listening to you. THAT will certainly get you some attention in getting what you need done taken care of. Sounds to me like you would be more of an asset than Betsy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817205780911729159.post-58121889561491559072007-11-17T15:47:00.000-05:002007-11-17T15:47:00.000-05:00While I do agree with you and like your suggestion...While I do agree with you and like your suggestion, I'm not the pharmacy manager. Moreover, I believe that a staff has to get along to get the most things accomplished. If I start laying down the law and cut out all the stupid shit that goes on, then I'll create tension among the staff (if you knew some of the people I work with, you'd understand).<BR/><BR/>I suppose my biggest problem is that I expect people to be self-motivated. I don't believe people should have to be told what to do. Retail pharmacy isn't rocket science. If there is a long line at the counter and only one person at the register, someone else should just go and help out. If there are scripts to type or drugs to pull (or put away), then someone should just do it. If the phone is ringing, pick the damn thing up.<BR/><BR/>That's how I am. No one has to tell me what to do. I just do what has to be done. I hate telling people what to do.<BR/><BR/>Yes, I know, that's my problem, and perhaps I shouldn't bitch about it if I'm not willing to do something. You're probably right... but that's just how I am.<BR/><BR/>I think if I was the pharmacy manager, I'd set ground rules from the very beginning, but since I'm just a staff member, I don't really feel it's my place to step in and say something or do something before the manager does.Pharmacy Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06988761844897996541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817205780911729159.post-15036858204597820342007-11-17T14:59:00.000-05:002007-11-17T14:59:00.000-05:00Dude, your previous post said you're lately more i...Dude, your previous post said you're lately more interested in the business aspect of pharmacy. If that's true, that includes management, and that includes managing your staff, which means you have to tell people to do stuff. There are a lot of people who are very happy to do just the bare minimum (or less) required to keep their job, and nothing more. It's up to you to decide whether or not to continue to pick up the slack, or let them fall behind so others can see where the problem truly is. Assign tasks to be done by each pharmacist and rotate them either every other shift, or multiple times during the shift so that the lazy employee has to do stuff whether they like it or not. You also need to make it clear that ALL work needs to be finished before they rotate out of their station. It's simple, you just need to implement it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817205780911729159.post-5595988777174202722007-11-17T11:53:00.000-05:002007-11-17T11:53:00.000-05:00Wow, I couldn't have said it better. There are tim...Wow, I couldn't have said it better. There are times in the pharmacy when I want to just scream "Everybody shut the HELL up, put your head down and get to WORK!!" These are the same people who would be thoroughly annoyed if they walked into any retail establishment and were ignored by the staff while they chatted amongst themselves. I really want to ask them why they bother showing up for work. This has always been a huge pet peeve of mine -- well said!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com