These hours are killing me!

[admin]

Originally Posted by womble

You bet the bosses wouldn't want to be implicated - the interesting thing is that since I raised my concerns about working long hours, and went down the path of the grievance procedure, the only person I havent heard from is the Superintendant. Everyone else in the company has basically said 'those are the hours'

I had a quick think on this one, and here's a few ideas: -

1. Ask for practical help from your insurers - not just their opinion

2. Tell the company this is against the law

3. Contact the supers office - don't wait for them to contact you

4. Try to find others in your company in the same situation - get a group together - safety in numbers

5. Ask the society what you can do, not just their opinion - you want real help on this

6. Take a lunch break yourself - refuse to work for 1 hour during the day - the customers will soon get used to this - the company can't stop you doing it

7. Don't admit to working in conditions you know are unsafe if an error occurs - they will hang you!

8. Don't worry - you'll easily get anothet job if it doesn't work out

9. Consider changing companies - better to change you job then get struck off

10. Remember these are just a few opinions

Please let us all know how it goes, and good luck.

[Roving Relief]

I have been looking around for work on some agency sites recently, and came across some date for a supermarket chain with times of 6.30-4pm (no breaks) and 2.30-10.30pm, no breaks. Trouble is the agencies accept these, and as people accept the bookings, they become normal. I had a disagreement about this last week. I am working at an independent shop, which also has a MDS dispensary, so there are usually two of us. One day, MDS pharmacist had a day off, and I had to go out in my lunchbreak. Dispenser said I shouldn't be leaving the premises. However, if I have to be available to supervise sales, and check prescriptions, even from the office while I eat my lunch, it is not a break. I am not paid for the lunch hour, so I left the premises, but she wasn't happy.

[johnep]

Golden rule is, stay on the premises == get paid, able to leave premises , then expect not to get paid as on hourly contract.
johnep

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by johnep

Golden rule is, stay on the premises == get paid, able to leave premises , then expect not to get paid as on hourly contract.
johnep

Seconded.
We are still people and should have proper breaks.

[johnep]

breaks are a right but if you are charging for your time by the hour, then why should someone pay you when you are 'not working'.

All the time I worked for BTC, I was only ever paid for 6 1/2 hours in a nominal 8 hour day. One hour for lunch and two 15 min breaks.

However, except in dire emergency those break times were undisturbed.
johnep

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by johnep

breaks are a right but if you are charging for your time by the hour, then why should someone pay you when you are 'not working'.

All the time I worked for BTC, I was only ever paid for 6 1/2 hours in a nominal 8 hour day. One hour for lunch and two 15 min breaks.

However, except in dire emergency those break times were undisturbed.
johnep

Agreed - you have to be business-like. I would not be expect to be paid for breaks. However, if I did a delivery in my lunch break I would claim the time, same if asked back early or left a bit later. Not had anyone employing me object to this either. For locums breaks are a good time to read the pharmacy magazines (CPD they call it now) or to let the two co-codamol 8/500 start to work on the headache from the morning session.

[Roving Relief]

I don't expect to be paid for my breaks, so I expect that they aren't disturbed checking prescriptions, or supervising methadone. I very foolishly once agreed to a 12 hour supermarket shift, not thinking I wouldn't even be allowed to go to the canteen for some lunch. Store manager was furious,but I stood my ground, and took a 30 minute break.

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by Roving Relief

I don't expect to be paid for my breaks, so I expect that they aren't disturbed checking prescriptions, or supervising methadone. I very foolishly once agreed to a 12 hour supermarket shift, not thinking I wouldn't even be allowed to go to the canteen for some lunch. Store manager was furious,but I stood my ground, and took a 30 minute break.

Great to hear this - we pharmacists are becoming institutionalised and its time we bit back. By the way, what hourly rate did the supermarket offer you? My plan for the future is to work the unsociable hours at weekends - hopefully with the unsociable hours premium on fees, and not work monday-thursday, in pharmacy at least.

By the way - show this to the store manager and advise him to consult the superintendent pharmacist. If he still sticks to his guns say that you cannot work in a place with unsafe working practices as per the code of ethics, and that you will report him to the directors and superintendant of XYZ supermarkets and raise the question that if their manager is following company policy then questionable whether they are fit to operate pharmacies. That will fix the blighter. You might not be asked to return, but there are probably better places to spend the pharmaceutical day anyway.
Making adequate provision for pharmacists to have appropriate rest breaks

I would hope the PharmSoc of the future will be more pro-active in these matters.

Admin - how about setting up a sticky thread so that we can have these links for reference?

[Defblade]

Originally Posted by admin

Originally Posted by Linnear
My biggest problem is that I work when I'm at work. (If the work gets cleared then I start on my novel)

The locum arranger for Alliance will put me in shops that have a backlog because she knows that I'll probably clear it.

I've also got three shops that will ask for me if they get in the brown smelly stuff! I never get quiet days any more!

Should have become one of these locums that sit on their arse and read the paper!



That is exactly my problem. I can handle hard stressful shops, so they send me to them. What really gets up my nose are locums who are basically useless, and won't work. They seem to get all the easy jobs, and the same pay as me.

These 2 quotes are a big chunk of why I took a manager's job 7 years ago. Just one week of tidying up followed by 6.5 years of enjoying smooth(ish!) running. Now I'm locumming again, lloyds in particular have a much bigger area and the arranger hasn't twigged me yet

[admin]

Originally Posted by Defblade

These 2 quotes are a big chunk of why I took a manager's job 7 years ago. Just one week of tidying up followed by 6.5 years of enjoying smooth(ish!) running. Now I'm locumming again, lloyds in particular have a much bigger area and the arranger hasn't twigged me yet

I'm still in the same position doing locums, but I stand my ground and always take a break for lunch. I usually stay on the premises and if I check scripts during my break then I charge the company. Nobody has ever questioned me on this, so I don't think it's a problem.

To pharmanaut - sorry but I missed your request for a sticky thread. If you ever want one putting up it's better to private message me.