Staffing problems in retail pharmacy

[retailpharmacist]

where do u find well qualified polite knowledgable staff? they seem to be a rare species! ive tried c and d, reed, newspapers.....no luck....our business runs on front of house staff and if u cant find the ppl well u might as well give up.

any thoughts ppl?

am i alone?

[johnep]

You will find these people where pay and conditions are good.
johnep

[LeftArm]

Wtf lol

[crit care]

surely just by training the staff, and nsuring they are decent people at interview or on first impressions, i don't think you can go far wrong...i think you can get just as bad people even if the conditions and pay are above the norm.....

using money as an incentive to make someone polite seems a bit lame

[hibernia]

surely just by training the staff, and nsuring they are decent people at interview or on first impressions, i don't think you can go far wrong...i think you can get just as bad people even if the conditions and pay are above the norm.....

using money as an incentive to make someone polite seems a bit lame

If somebody isn't polite and well-mannered giving them more money won't make them so, on the other hand if pay and conditions are poor even good staff soon lose interest and stop doing their best.
You have to create the right atmosphere, and pay is part of that, but there are many other factors. I'd say the most important one is the attitude of management to the staff. Unless you treat people with respect you won't get respect in return.

Working on the counter of a retail pharamcy is a very tough job, the hours are long, you stand on your feet all day and have to deal with a demanding public. If you don't have the sympathy and support of your boss you won't stick it very long.
Often managers haven't done the job themselves, or didn't do it for very long so they don't fully understand how difficult it is and the type of support their staff need.

[dizzyb23]

where do u find well qualified polite knowledgable staff? they seem to be a rare species! ive tried c and d, reed, newspapers.....no luck....our business runs on front of house staff and if u cant find the ppl well u might as well give up.

any thoughts ppl?

am i alone?

Are you looking for counter staff or dispensary staff?? And where is the pharmacy based at?? Depending on your answers, I might be able to help....

[retailpharmacist]

Both really counter and dispensery. Based in south west London

[WindsorLR]

Personally I have found two things that work:

1. As soon as possible devolve some form of responsibility - that gives the individual team members a sense of value and appreciation. You might have to do some individual training, but in the long term this really makes your life easier, and

2. Invest in training opportunities, such as NPA's counter assistant courses, Fragrance Consultants, etc. Not only does this develop the staff members, but it also shows them that you value their work and input - also will increase your profits in the long run.

Getting well trained, good staff off the shelf so to speak is rare. You kind of have to pouch them if that is what you are looking for. The only other alternative is then to make a judgment during the interview and invest afterwords with training, etc.

Wrt the comments about salaries, it is a catch 22 situation. Offering a good salary will attract better application, but is no guarantee, especially if the pool you work from is low caliber in any case. Where it certainly plays a role is with regards to staff retention. If you do get a good one pay them handsomely and show you appreciation for their work - a well placed 'THANK YOU' goes a long way.

My penny's worth.

[johnep]

When I was being trained to carry out staff appraisals, I was told that job satisfaction was a way of reducing the wages bill.
ie if people are happy in their work, will accept lower pay.
johnep

[pharmboffin]

If you pay peanuts you will get monkeys.