Cancellation of locums - both sides of the story

[gabria]

When locums get cancelled either by the locum or employer(usually through agency), there is a big hullaballo certainly in my experience.
Once as a young inexperienced locum, I cancelled a booking at short notice of 5 days, the agent got angry, fair enough I promised I wouldn't do it again.
Unfortunately next time I had to give the same notice period because of a bereavement but for all subsequent cancellations (not many) I have allowed myself a notice period of 10 days for easily-covered locums and 14 for the not so easily covered.
However, in the opposite direction, the notice I have been given is totally unacceptable. Usually less than 7 days. And last Friday afternoon, I was totally pissed off when my locum the next day was cancelled, leaving me with no work on a Saturday, my current guaranteed income source as I search for full-time work. In case of a half-days notice, I wonder should I be entitled to some compensation? At least in my experience when you walk into a locum that has been suddenly covered with no notice whatsoever given to you, they let you work and get paid anyway. I'm thinking I deserve half a days pay at least.

[johnep]

Happened to me today, was booked for Wednesday, had been asked if could change to the Saturday which I was unable to do because of another booking. 'Phoned today to be told that my booking had been cancelled but of course not confirmed to me. As it is I don't mind too much as only couple of weeks to go anyway. However, it is beginning to look as if employers are demanding long notice while cancelling locums at short notice.

Time to start using the PDA standard contract.
johnep

[Defblade]

well, "standard" terms was always 3 days notice, either way. I think the PDA still go with this. Problem from the locum side is - get cancelled with less, kick up a fuss, never work for that company again. So who's going to do it?

[Katie]

i think generally if you go through an agency they fine the pharmacies for cancelling short at short notice - so why shouldn't you do the same.

perhaps write up some terms and conditions and send them to the companies you locum with, include a late cancellation fee and ask them to sign before doing any locums.

[Messier]

i am a locum too and heard of one guy who was actually driving to his booking and was cancelled on the day he turned round and went home. is this a record?
i myself am always being swopped on the day. get to one place and be compelled to go home or swop bookings.
interestingly i was at a recent booking and an area manager of a mutiple, on leaving shouted across a crowded shop "did I want a job?". My reply was that I had one I am a locum.
maybe this is the problem? some people don't think we have proper jobs and can be treated how they like.

[johnep]

Locum was being 'hounded' by a multiple to become permanent. They presented arguments why he should. He silenced them by saying he needed 10 days off over christmas.
johnep

[gabria]

i think generally if you go through an agency they fine the pharmacies for cancelling short at short notice - so why shouldn't you do the same.

perhaps write up some terms and conditions and send them to the companies you locum with, include a late cancellation fee and ask them to sign before doing any locums.

The terms and conditions contract is a good idea in theory. Unfortunately here in Ireland I have heard that one agency has 600 locums on its books. We are certainly not in a position to get fussy with employers over Ts and Cs for even Saturday work. Sadly, our employers are not looking for the best pharmacists to cover one day a week. They are looking for the naive cheap types who give the concept of the locum pharmacist a bad name.

[gabria]

Locum was being 'hounded' by a multiple to become permanent. They presented arguments why he should. He silenced them by saying he needed 10 days off over christmas.
johnep

Ha ha! Yes I can also remember in my last permanent position in Dublin two years ago taking with dread a three hour train to a pharmacy on the morning of 27th December, the start of another "business as usual" week. We had three Scots in the group however who got the full week off. Since I'm starting with a UK chain, next Christmas I hope I get reciprocal exemption!

[johnep]

Always had the whole week off in industry, standard practice.
johnep

[hibernia]

Sadly, our employers are not looking for the best pharmacists to cover one day a week. They are looking for the naive cheap types who give the concept of the locum pharmacist a bad name.

Sadly, it would seem you are right. Some employers don't seem to mind taking advantage of locums, the rest of their staff and their customers.

Not only do these locums, through no fault of their own, give locums a bad name they bring down the reputation of the whole profession. Customers don't know or care that the pharmacist dealing with them has never been in that pharmacy before and isn't getting any backup and assume that is the usual standard.