double booking

[monika]

when I arrived to work on a Saturday it turned out that the regular pharmacist was there and nobody expected a locum. my agency doesn't work on Saturdays and the locum coordinator was off. I left my details in the pharmacy and went home. how should I sort it out?
thanks
monika

[johnep]

Re: double booking

Used to happen when working for llds. Generally, I am always early so when other pharmacist turned up would not concede until contacted lds area manager on his mobile. Sometimes I was working locally while the other locum had driven from Birmingham or on train from London. Under these circumstances I would have (unpaid) day off. Generally, the Lds area manager would send me to another shop where no pharmacist or a second pair of hands would be welcome.

As I am part time, no big deal. If full time would expect to get paid one way or another if not an error on my part.
johnep

[Pharmanaut]

Re: double booking

Used to happen when working for llds. Generally, I am always early so when other pharmacist turned up would not concede until contacted lds area manager on his mobile. Sometimes I was working locally while the other locum had driven from Birmingham or on train from London. Under these circumstances I would have (unpaid) day off. Generally, the Lds area manager would send me to another shop where no pharmacist or a second pair of hands would be welcome.

As I am part time, no big deal. If full time would expect to get paid one way or another if not an error on my part.
johnep

I've turned up a couple of times when I haven't read my diary properly, and met the "real" pharmacist of the day. Felt like a kid sneaking off school for the rest of the day. Guess I'm institutionalised.

[N.T]

Re: double booking

when I arrived to work on a Saturday it turned out that the regular pharmacist was there and nobody expected a locum. my agency doesn't work on Saturdays and the locum coordinator was off. I left my details in the pharmacy and went home. how should I sort it out?
thanks
monika

If you're booked you'll get paid.

Obviously the company will try and get out of paying by either 'forgetting' or telling you you're not entitled to being paid.

Ask the agency/company nicely once. Then write a niceish letter if they haven't paid. Then if they still don't pay write them one more letter saying you'll take it to a small claims court if not paid within 14 days.

[admin]

Re: double booking

when I arrived to work on a Saturday it turned out that the regular pharmacist was there and nobody expected a locum. my agency doesn't work on Saturdays and the locum coordinator was off. I left my details in the pharmacy and went home. how should I sort it out?
thanks
monika

Tell me about it - I've been sent to the wrong place six times since Christmas.

[johnep]

Re: double booking

PDA specialise in this sort of claim, you will need written evidence.
johnep

[monika]

Re: double booking

hi!
lloyds is going to pay me for that saturday and I didn't even have make much fuss about it.

[Roving Relief]

Re: double booking

It happened to me just before Christmas last year. Two locums for a full day, and all the local surgeries were closed for practice training in the afternoon. As I was heading off to France the following morning, I went home after lunch.

[locum pharmacist]

Re: double booking

out of interest, if u r double booked, is the company or the locum agency legally bound to pay u

[johnep]

Re: double booking

If agency made the mistake, then they should pay, if pharmacy made the mistake, then they have broken the contract. For the future, always phone day or so before to actual branch and ensure they will be expecting you.
REad how to be a locum on another forum..
johnep

[Sinister]

Re: double booking

hi!
lloyds is going to pay me for that saturday and I didn't even have make much fuss about it.

Lucky you. When I started locuming over 3 years ago and joined rubbish agency they kept me messing around on weekly basis, never received any payments neither from lloyds nor from agency.. Finally got the agency changed and all problems have gone.

[Guest]

Re: double booking

If you're booked you'll get paid.

Obviously the company will try and get out of paying by either 'forgetting' or telling you you're not entitled to being paid.

Ask the agency/company nicely once. Then write a niceish letter if they haven't paid. Then if they still don't pay write them one more letter saying you'll take it to a small claims court if not paid within 14 days.

If ever you do need one a sample letter is included in the PDA Union Locum Booklet which, if you haven't got one, you can read/download here:

http://www.the-pda.org/pdf/pda-locum-booklet.pdf

see page 10.

[macrylinda]

Re: double booking

hi!
lloyds is going to pay me for that saturday and I didn't even have make much fuss about it.

It happened to me just before Christmas last year. Two locums for a full day, and all the local surgeries were closed for practice training in the afternoon. As I was heading off to France the following morning, I went home after lunch.

[Defblade]

Re: double booking

I know some people, quite rightly, push this when there's a mess up.... but I used to have enough work on that I'd quite happily take a day off. Even after driving home again, I was still up and about earlier than if I'd have known in advance I considered it a small loss to goodwill.