This was the EXACT moment I knew I was in a TOXIC workplace 🤮🤮🤮 Area manager walks in to the pharmacy with someone from head office. 👬 AM: We need to shut the pharmacy to carry out an investigation. 😬 Me: I have a queue of patients and a blister pack that needs to be checked off, can it wait til my lunch hour? 🤯 Boss: No, it must be done now! Shut the pharmacy. 😬 Me: ** Looking around at the queue of patients then at my curious team members. ** 🤷♀️ We shut the pharmacy and walked towards the back office. 🚶♀️ Me: ** Anxiety peaking, 🫀Heart pumping. Did I make a huge dispensing error? Did I forget to check an interaction? 🔪 DID I KILL SOMEONE? ** Boss: We have been notified that you made an error on the rota 🗓️ which meant there was no counter staff at the pharmacy on a Saturday. Me: Is that all? Yes it was an error. I was working that day and covered the dispensary and the counter. It’s not even in my jobrole to plan the rota. 🤷♀️ Boss: Your error lead to a potential loss of earnings. 🤑🤑🤑 Me: 🤢 With all due respect, I have been running this dispensary for TEN years; I am passionate about my job and my patients; I have taken this pharmacy from a quiet store to this buzzing business; I am a well respected pharmacist in the community; I exceed my targets every year and I have made you huge profits year on year. You scared me! I thought I had made a clinical error! ‼️ Boss: You will need to attend a performance disciplinary next week. 🤨 Me: 🙄 This is a little confusing since your feedback on my performance has always been that I'm doing an excellent job. 💡Without any hesitation I ripped off my TEN years performance badge and threw it at my boss. 🏃🏽♀️And then I walked out. And I never returned. ⛔️ ➡️ Best thing I ever did. 🙌 Look at me know.🏆 Being rewarded for my performance every day. 🤢 If you find yourself in a toxic environment, 🤙 get in touch and hopefully I can give you the courage to make that change. We are worth more than this. 🙏 #pharmacist #pharmacystudent #generalpractice #toxicworkplace #worklifebalance #bullying
Morassa ... thank you for reposting to help me to spread the message.
Shazia Alam thank you for reposting to help me to spread the message.
I had a similar experience a few years ago now. I left a toxic manager. I’m now working in a kind, compassionate and forward looking organisation. Learn from the past and don’t do what they did to you was the advice to myself. Well done you🙏🏽
This is a true story to many ! Unfortunately - the absent of counter staff had cascading effect on errors in dispensary team , let alone if you are the manager and lack of staff in your team. When I was a Relief Pharmacist Manager I noticed these especially if you are dealing with angry patients all day long . What surprised me was company failed to see why. Good staff were leaving due to lack of staff in the first place . This puts more pressure on a good team which eventually loses its momentum and dynamics in the stressful environment when ETP or out of stock medication issues and with other PGD services. Unfortunately there is only one Pharmacist with 1001 queries . Let’s shine some light 💡. Looking at it positively, great pharmacist always see the risks and they leave before it’s too late . Fortunately Pharmacists do have so many options to select thier area of interests ie other than community pharmacy. I am glad you have made that move to PCN/GP surgery. 💙
A friend of mine was grilled by a multiple's AM because the external flower pots weren't maintained and inferring it was their job. They left too. Great people who leave usually leave because of bad line managers....however it is a business with a bad culture that allows those line managers to have taken and maintained those positions
Same script different cast. The best thing I did was just walk away from the toxicity. Now I only do locums and I’m thriving. 💛
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story for the many people who feel stuck and unhappy. I work with so many people who say they feel trapped in unhappy careers. The truth is we all have choices. And when you leave behind what’s harming you, you allow the best outcomes to arise. I’m glad your choices have led you to the happiness you deserve. 🙏
Sad to keep reading stories of toxicity and bullying in pharmacy Thankful to see that people including myself have found better ways to serve and healthy workspaces Sharing the stories helpfully empowers others to seek support if they are struggling/ suffering
As a HR professional I would be interested how your HR team dealt with that, from a shared learning point of view?? Sounds like a minefield!!
GP lead Partner @ WellBN | DPP | Prescribing Pharmacist | Deprescriber
9moThanks to those who have taken the time to read my long post. And thanks for those messaging me already.