Below is a comment on this website… former “unhappy” CVS RPh?
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/rx/cvs_rx.html?page=2
I was a CVS pharmacist and worked for them almost 7 years. I got fired recently. Needless to say, I was not the only one to get fired. There were many CVS pharmacists before me including my co-workers that had been fired. Did you know CVS does not lay off? They only fire, then defame and blacklist former employees. CVS is the corporate that has the highest turnover rate. Pharmacists in CVS always try to find the way to get out of this nightmare company. I do not defend all who left, but the majority of us, former CVS pharmacists, were either fired based on age and salary, or fired because we went all our way to help customers and to be honest (which according to CVS is against company way of making money!). I hope when you all read my comments, you will understand what is going on in CVS pharmacy.
The day I got fired, my body weight was 105 lbs. I got ulcers, severe mental stress, got 3 times or more anginas to the brink of heart attack, got change in attitude (easily snap and angry), got insomnia, severe exhaustion, and diagnosed of “high risk of stroke” caused by CVS occupational stress. My doctor ordered me, “Either you leave the job or you get a stroke.” Now, I weigh 117 lbs, sleep like I’ve never slept before, had attitude changes (much more calm and peaceful), no more exhaustion, no more stress and no more heart attacks. I worked for CVS for almost 7 years and it was hellish! Why I did not leave? – Because I love my job as a pharmacist. Just to let you know, many of us former CVS pharmacists really love our customers regardless of how much the company threatened us just because we want to do right things against the company policy. Before I continue, let me leave a small message to Mr. Mike **, CVS spokesman:
“Mike, you know all the messes in pharmacies. There is nothing angel about you, CVS, general managers, district managers, supervisors and managers. All the tricks you guys are doing from pressuring pharmacists and techs and cashiers to enroll customers in automatic refills, to calling and pressuring their MDs to refill prescriptions, to fill 90-day supplies with bogus promises, to administer regular strength flu vaccines to patients 65 y/o or older to save money even though they are eligible for higher strength flu vaccines according to FDA, etc. Why we RTS (Return to Stock) those prescriptions that we automatic refill them after 7 days? Of course, Mike, the insurance was billed and paid to CVS. The reverse billing after 7 days does not guarantee the full payment to insurance companies. You know very well when pharmacies perform RTS (7 days after prescriptions were filled) because customers did not pick up, more than half did not capture the claims. That is why you got busted by the Fed and States of “over billing” insurance.
“To me, you are thieves but many of us former CVS pharmacists are not thieves. We did not cooperate with you and tried to fix the CVS system from bad management, discrimination, racism, sexism, physical abuses to stealing. Consequences are we got fired. But we are not giving up our value and ethical codes, Mr. **.”
Here is how CVS operates: RTS daily: Meds are returned to stock if patients don’t pick up after 7 days – reverse claim – but not every claim is captured. Many times, customers are frustrated because their insurances did not receive full refund. Then, it appears on customer’s yearly spending report and so on. Pharmacists did not see at their systems what is refunded and how much is refunded. All we see is the prescription is reversed. Pharmacists and staffs are threatened by managers, supervisors (boss of managers), district managers (DM) to increase script numbers based on metric standard or KPM. If the pharmacists refuse to do so because it is waste of time, resources, risk of law suits, and very unethical, they will be coached and counseled. Meaning, their job performance is low, store performance is low (low in money making) and they will be labeled as “risking the lives and well being of our valued customers because you do not refill their prescriptions. Refill their prescriptions; keep them staying healthy and compliance to therapy!”
Customers complain. How to solve per supervisors and CVS (each year supervisors and DM have big bonus checks; however, if there are many complaints in the district or region, they will lose their positions and bonus checks are reduced): 1) Do not automatically give customers phone number 1-800-shop CVS; 2) Do not give office or cells of supervisors or DM (they don’t want to know or hear customers yelling); 3) All complaints have to be taken care of at store levels (if supervisors or DM get involved, the pharmacist will be coached and counseled and terminated).
If staffs call in sick, must counsel them. If there are more than 3 calls in sick, discipline must be done. All stores face severe short of staffs to handle daily pharmacy tasks. One of my techs who is very excellent in customer service had told me she got raised from $11 to $11.08 after more than 2 years working. No wonder why many times she is snapping at customers and crying in the break room. When I raised my concern and show support and ask for a better raise for my entire staffs, the supervisors and managers said to me: “Don’t you love CVS, our company? You don’t have a sense of management and budget. Our company has no money. You need to review your vision about our company as a pharmacist.”
Yea right, Tom Ryan was one of the 20 richest CEO and CVS got billions of dollars in profit annually. My techs got sick in flu season. By law, I cannot let them work; that may pose risk to public health and risk to themselves. So I called for help. Other stores let me borrow their techs until other techs show up to cover sick calls. The next day, I was written up because I cannot manage my pharmacy operation and cause unnecessary payroll in overtime billing. Normally, without sick calls, the lines are already long at drop off and pick up. Supervisors and DMs are trimming off hours or pharmacy budgets so they can look good to their bosses. They want pharmacists to work super fast that not only maintain good customers services but also multi-task (pharmacists are doctors, nurses, receptionists, clerks, cashiers, counselors, technicians, phone operators, custodians, mediators, sale reps, etc.). If I gave wrong meds or called in sick, they labeled me as incompetent
Every day, we must call customers before 8 pm from the calling list to remind them to pick up medications or to remind them to refill meds. If the “Yes” response is low, our store performance is low. We are in trouble. They would accuse us as incompetent and not knowing how to engage forcefully/skillfully with customers that leading to decrease in company income. Many pharmacists and techs are afraid of losing jobs; they automatically enroll refills. Pharmacists like me did not do it because it is dishonest or unethical (most of the time, we see very high risk of drug interactions or unnecessary drug therapy). We got fired, demoted, transferred for being honest.
When Express Scripts came back to Walgreens, the supervisors and DMs emailed us and instructed us, “Make Walgreens customers wait at least 1 hour when they transfer the prescription. This will lower the risk of losing business and customers and income.” It was from one of the weekly conference call email that every pharmacist must do. It was so bad and I refused to cooperate. During the first 2 weeks, I transferred out more than 200 prescriptions. For us, patients have the rights to fill meds wherever they wish. But to hold them 1 hour according to CVS policy is absolutely immoral and unethical. The delays can pose detrimental effects on their health. I got coached and counseled again. The sup and DM said to me that I caused loss in business and their health in danger because of me.
During flu season, I informed my customers who are 65 y/o or older that they are eligible for high dose flu vaccines or Flu-zone. I was written up. Reason: I caused unnecessary store budget spending on vaccines. They said to me: “Instruct patients to fill out the forms and administer regular strength flu vaccine. Do not tell them about Flu-zone. We don’t want to spend money on expensive meds.” I said, “By law and ethically, they have the right to choose and to know. I forbid my techs and managers or anyone else in my presence withholding information about flu vaccines. This is the FDA approval products for this special population. Unless their doctors said otherwise or if they do not wish to have Flu-zone, then I will give them regular strength vaccine by their consents.”
The following weeks, I did not see Flu-zone orders come to my store anymore or I hear excuses like no more vaccines. I got written up for causing loss of budget, disrespecting authority and incompetence. There are more and more problems with CVS and untold stories. We suffer a lot under bad managers, supervisors, DMs and the company itself. Many of us here when departed from CVS always have their love for their customers no matter what. CVS will one day, for sure, collapse based on unthinkable and unethical practices in business, patient treatment, labor practices, etc. I feel deeply sad of what happened to customers and to many good pharmacy staffs and I am very angry at people at management levels. Hopefully, I can bring those bad guys to justice and make them pay for it.
Filed under: General Problems
I’ll be concise, CVS contributed greatly to the growth in mail order prescription pharmacy because the customers are thrilled not being abused anymore by CVS Richard
[…] I counted the word “UNETHICAL” FOUR TIMES […]
CVS is just a disgusting inhumane company with insanely unethical and immoral practices. More class action lawsuits need to be filed against these sick people.
I got fired from CVS in Florida as well. My “supervisor” who was in her early 30’s and is a botox consultant as a side gig could care less that she fired me after 10 yrs of dedication…no call offs, no complaints, no bad reviews until I hit 50….then it was 1-2-3 gone. They look for reasons to fire pharmacists so they can bring in the 23 yr olds for part time slots. CVS makes me sick.
Iam almost like you .. can u tell me what r u doing now !? ( work and spend ur time )
Two pharmacists friends got fired from CVS here in FL. Two guys left everything for their jobs. 18 and 8 years of experience. Unreal! The only reason why CVS even consider pharmacist for employment is because they need a licensee to sell their meds. They have ZERO respect for the profession. You are just a robot.
Band together and walk out, one store, one district, one town at a time. No way they can cover that many absences. Some may lose their jobs. To change a broken system requires sacrifice. Our Founding Fathers stood up for independence. It’s time RPhs/techs do the same.
Hello, I am a pharmacist who has started a healthcare professionals against fraud firm. Please send me your inquiries at fraud@medicaidcrime.com and we can take down this Giant together with no cost to you.
Recently an OT class action lawsuit against a certain chain was settled. This lawsuit began in 2012. In order to obtain his/her part of the settlement, the individual pharmacist must send in a signed and dated claim. There are some pharmacists who are giving up the money they rightfully earned and are owed because they are afraid of being “blacklisted”. So if you are thinking of filing or joining any lawsuit, be prepared for it to drag on and pray that you live long enough to see the resolution.
I was terminated in 08 by 3 letter evil and since then have not been able to get a regular RPh job. I have spent the last 7 yrs piecemealing part time jobs and temp work and long stretches of unemployment (depending and grateful for family help with paying bills) I have emptied out all of my savings, retirement, and exhausted unemployment when I was laid off from a part time position, nothing left. We live on my husband’s job (which they had a huge pay cut a few years back at his factory in addition to family help.) We have cut our budget back as much as possible. Relocation is not possible as I am so underwater in my house. Like Kevin, I am in my very early 50s, I have sent hundreds of resumes. There is not only ageism on the job, but I believe in the hiring process. I would not be surprised if somehow 3 letter evil has somehow had me blackballed to some large corporate potential employers. They just keep buying up and I know when they purchase anyplace, one of the the things they do is go through the personnel records and anyone found who used to work for them is not ‘re hired’ under the new merger. I heard my old DM state that when I worked for them. Yeah I would join a Class action is one gets going, especially if we can demonstrate ageism in hiring as well. My husband has chronic health issues and has been told to consider disability at some point. One of us needs steady employment/income and insurance…so it falls on me.
After 10 yrs of perfect reviews, never calling off once and not having even one, customer complaint, I was terminated. Reason? I turned 50 and was targeted. As soon as I was 50, the metrics were changed and suddenly I wasn’t reaching “new metrics” and I was 1-2-3 gone! This happened 2 weeks after I had just bought a new home. Now? I have not been able to find a job (8 months later) because I live in an area surrounded by Pharmacy schools. They are pumping out the new grads and why hire an experienced 50 yr old man when you can hire a 23 yr old female who has no family to insure.
Someone needs to start a Class A suit against CVS and bring this pattern of ageism to the public’s awareness.
My husband got fired right after he turned 65 after about 6 months of dm asking him when he was going to retire and writing up for rediculous things. We sued. Got over 2 million plus attorney’s fees!!
Got a lawyers name???mary
I have applied to countless CVS positions and had 4 interviews. All said “interview went well but we’re going with someone else”. I’m 50. Do I have any recourse?
What is name of lawyer
Hi Trudy
I attempted a lawsuit and it got dismissed. CVS used a law firm in Las Vegas, Littler Mendelson to fight me, wish I had your attorney, this was 8 years ago. Good Luck to you both Richard
You had my support until the last sentence. Why the sexism? Do you have something against young, female pharmacists?
I need more info on those RPh’s from SC and which attorney is representing them. Both my husband and I are pharmacist and he worked for CVS for a while before he was forced to quit. He was targeted for contacting the Ethics line, which I told him to do after I found out what his DM had done or said to him.
Check Email
any information would be greatly appreciated 🙂
Wow!
While I am not a pharmacist, I was a Certified Tech at CVS for nearly 2 years. I was fired for trying to take care of one of our ‘regular’ customers who was pissed off at the floating pharmacist for saying something he should have never said to her, or anybody for that matter. This customer got her controls weekly because she couldn’t afford a whole month at a time. We had no issue with her filling them this way because we knew that she was taking them as she was supposed to. Her psych meds were less expensive so she filled them monthly.
When she called in to see what day she needed to get her controls filled, the pharmacist treated her like a criminal and said to her, “Well, if you’ve lost them, I could send the drug police to your house to help you look for them.” I knew who he was talking to and my eyes immediately got big as saucers and I started waving at him silently and mouthing “no, no, no!” She ended up calling back 4 different times in the next hour, pissed as hell about what he said. I happened to field the call all 4 times, and covered his ass, telling her he was just playing, but yes, it was inappropriate for him to say that, even in jest. She threatened to call our Pharmacy DM. It was 8:30 at night, and he had just had a new baby. I asked her to please wait and call him in the morning. Asked her to sleep on it. (mainly because I knew she would calm down before then.) When I told the pharmacist I was going to email our Pharmacy DM to let him know what was going on, he begged me not to. So I didn’t. In hindsight, I probably should have.
Who lost their job? me
Who didn’t? Floater pharmacist that was a dick.
Although the way I was fired was really bad, I am happier and healthier than I was the two years I worked there. It’s amazing how you lose your job and your stress level goes down…
Was anyone fired recently for using the rx cards that cvs approved because they were making a dollar off of each one?
Ha. When I started at CVS I was 187 lbs. 2.5 years later, when I “left” (yep, because of low KPM and “service” numbers), I was 140lbs. After their 14 hour shifts with no food or any kind of breaks, I nearly killed my digestive system. I concur with every single statement in this complaint. They fired 2 of my techs for not coming to work during the blizzard, when the state had announced a statewide emergency.
CVS poses a serious public health risk with its irresponsible business policies. With a company like this we don’t really need enemies.
@amy…I find it hard these days to laugh, however the short sleeve dress shirt thing gave me the much needed overdue laugh. Thank you for speaking out.
Joe
i worked for cvs as a pharmacist. truly the most horrible time of my life.. they are an immoral, unethical, avaricious and dangerous company. i hold my BS, PharmD and a PhD in Psychopharmacology. i’ll be damned if i let some pinhead in a short sleeved dress shirt, who knows nothing about clinical aspects of PATIENT – not customer – care, tell me i can’t counsel patients b/c it’s a waste of time. this company should be put out of business. i think pharmacies in the drug store chains are all due for overhauling but cvs is by far the worst.
So this RPH is from the Philadelphia area… The same thing happened in NJ around the same time!! Just found out another two gone from Maryland. This could be coming to a CVS near you. Start talking guys!!! Oh, and did I mention the 7 from SC that all have the same attorney.
Joe
yup happens in NH and MA too… 3rph and 6techs in 6 months…. bottom line.. $$ is the root… They don’t care about staff your just an employee number, and the lower the number… the higher on the can list you get… my friends was 3 numbers.. mine was only 6 they are at 8 now… i hope someone stands up to them… and sheds some light…