Problems with the manager

[Fallen]

I'm a regular poster on this site but was worried about being identified so I'm posting this under a different user name.

I've been having problems with my manager for quite a few months. I've told him to his face the problems but he really doesn't seem bothered. I've also mentioned it to his boss (twice!) but that seems to have made no difference.

The main problem is communication. We rarely know what's going on as he just doesn't talk to us about anything work related. He's always grumpy/moody and if we ask what is wrong we don't usually get an answer. The majority of the day he just stays in the consultation room (not sure quite what he's doing in there but it's not MURs) We have lost a lot of business recently, mainly due to us being so unorganised e.g he would sign up patients to the managed repeat scheme but make no record anywhere of when we should order the Rx, so patient would turn up and we would never have the Rx and obviously be very annoyed. Another thing was promising Rx's would be delivered and not doing so. Also he doesn't tend to check Rx's that quickly, I'll dispense them and place them on the shelf ready to be checked where it may remain until the patient comes in. Hardly the point of the collection service, where it should be ready and waiting. He recently upset the care home that we have (not the first time) and we really cannot afford to lose it. Two of us have explained the importance of the home and that if we keep messing up they will go elsewhere and he just says if they go, they go, that's just the way it is. This kind of attitude really annoys me as I work very hard to get their medication to them on time and keep relationships between us and them good. He upset this elderly man the other day and I pointed this out and all he said was I don't care.

It has now got to the stage where he hardly communicates with me at all, if I ask questions and/or make suggestions on how we can improve things at work I usually get ignored or if I'm lucky a grunt and that's basically how it is nowadays. I dislike going to work and being treated like rubbish, it has really got me down and the other day I'd had enough and handed in my notice. He knows why I'm going but still lied to HR and said I was leaving for personal reasons.

I've been working at the same place for a number of years and love my job, I feel very sad that I've had to do this but I simply couldn't carry on going into work everyday and be ignored.

Anyway, the point of this post is basically to get some feedback from others. I've gone over and over the whole situation in my head and wondered if I could have done things differently but I really don't know if I could have I know you may think what's the point now that I'm leaving but I'm keen to know in case this same situation occurs in the future and perhaps it would help me deal with it differently and achieve a better outcome.

If you think you can offer any advice it would be much appreciated.

Fallen

[LLUK77]

Difficult situation. It appears that if your manger and his line manager have not listened to your concerns then it is probably best that you have handed in your notice. You seem to have done the right things... in reality, what more could you have done? - you have raised your concerns - valid ones at that. Your better off looking for an employer that will appreciate your input - and there are a few out there who will.

[johnep]

His initials would not be KP would they? Sounds just like the bloke a pharmacy had to suffer for a year before managed to get him to resign.

Regret that there are a few people who come into pharmacy not realising it is a people profession. They should never have been accepted into uni in the first place.
johnep

[jaymags]

Fallen it's so sad that you are the one that has had to give in your notice. Seems to me this pharmacist has a lot of personal problems that are affecting his ability to do his job.
Is there no one else higher than you have already gone that can help you?
Good luck in your job hunt and don't beat yourself up about it I don't think you could have done any more than you have done.

[Mrs Pill]

I feel for you because its a bad/sad situation to cope with. I went through a similar-ish situation in a previous employment with my line manager. They were so bad at their job that 6 of the senior managers left within a 6 month period and all of us told the real reasons in our 'exit' interviews and it didn't make one bit of difference. This person is still in that position making life hell for all of their managers but young pharmacists need the jobs and experience so they accept the s***!!! I'll never understand how people get away with bad behaviour in the workplace.

But... moving on to another employment was the best thing I ever did and perhaps thats what you should be thinking about...future opportunities...and not how bad your last place was! There are always vacancies for good workers.

[bluemerlin]

Hi Fallen,reading your post, it could have been written by me. I too had to hand in my notice due to the manager (female) not managing. Spending the day being ignored, blamed for things that i did or didn't do, humiliated in front of customers and staff, not being able to get prescriptions checked, called a liar and trying to do the NVQ3 I decided I had no option to go. The senior management are aware of the situation but seem to choose to do nothing. It wasn't an easy decision as I really enjoyed my role as a dispenser and had hoped to go on to train as an ACT. Now, 4 weeks on, I know it was the best decision I could have made and hopefully I will be appreciated and respected in my new job. I figure no other job could be as bad.

[dizzyb23]

Hi Fallen
Sorry to hear about your difficulties. Yours is a common problem. We've had a similar issue ourselves in our branch but luckily for us, our Pharmacist Manager left which solved our problem. Sometimes, leaving is the best thing. I was job hunting when our manager came back from maternity leave in October of last year as I knew the same old problems would just carry on. And they did. It was hell so I know where you are coming from and understand how you feel. There will always be jobs for good staff so don't worry. You are doing the right thing.

[Defblade]

Putting all this in writing to HR/the boss might allow you to go for constructive dismissal; it is even possible to raise a greivence after actually leaving. Check your company's handbook and greivence procedure.

Is there another branch you could transfer to?

But, if you can find another job to go to (and competent and enthusiastic (sp?) dispensers should always be snapped up!) then it may not be worth the hassle.

If the company come after you for any training costs or similar, laugh in their face.

[howe928]

try to voice your concern to somebody higher in the position within the company if possible, if not may be have to report to PCT or RPSGB

[Fallen]

First of all, thank you to everyone that has replied to my thread and offered support and advice, it is very much appreciated.

I'm relieved to hear I'm not the only one to have experienced problems. I was beginning to convince myself that it was all my fault.

The people that I have raised my concerns to are the manager themselves (thought a direct approach may just work, but no) and the area manager. I don't know who else I could have spoken to.

I'm not aware of another branch in our area that require a dispenser at the moment.

I've only just returned after being off-sick and thought perhaps things may have changed but they haven't. The place was a complete mess yet he found time to laugh and joke around with one of the counter staff. I'm not jealous, just upset and wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

Thanks again, it means a lot.