Thousands of Walgreens pharmacy staff across the country are walking off work this week, claiming that poor working conditions are jeopardizing the safety of employees and patients. The walkout, which began on Monday and is expected to last until Wednesday, could potentially impact hundreds of stores. However, it remains uncertain if any pharmacies have actually halted operations as a result of the strike.
The pharmacy workers, including pharmacists, technicians, and support staff, argue that the increased demands on understaffed teams have become untenable, hindering their ability to perform their jobs responsibly. They allege that administering vaccines, in addition to dealing with hundreds of backlogged prescriptions, has put an immense strain on their tasks. According to one anonymous organizer, a simple mistake in a prescription could have severe consequences, possibly even leading to fatalities.
Walgreens spokesman Fraser Engerman acknowledged the challenges faced by retail pharmacy employees during these unprecedented times. Engerman stated that the company recognizes the concerns raised by some of its team members and is committed to providing support and resources to ensure the best care for their patients. He mentioned that Walgreens is making significant investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses in order to attract and retain talent, particularly in harder-to-staff locations. However, detailed information regarding these measures was not provided.
The employees are demanding several changes from the company, including hiring additional pharmacy staff, implementing mandatory training hours, ensuring transparency in assigning payroll hours to stores, and giving advance notice of staff reductions or job openings.
The collective actions taken by Walgreens employees were reportedly inspired by a recent walkout by CVS pharmacy employees in Kansas City. Both Walgreens and CVS employees are not unionized, leading them to unite through a subreddit dedicated to pharmacy staff.
According to Michael Hogue, CEO of the American Pharmacists Association, pharmacists and technicians face similar challenges at both Walgreens and CVS. These include struggling to hire qualified staff due to the high-stress environment and lack of support. Hogue emphasizes that inadequate staffing is a widespread issue in community pharmacies across the entire United States.
Some Walgreens employees shared their experiences, revealing that they often work 12-hour shifts as the sole pharmacist on staff. They express the immense pressure of fulfilling hundreds of prescriptions while juggling other responsibilities such as verification, patient calls, vaccines, transfers, and medication management. The additional burden of administering vaccines has made it nearly impossible for them to carry out their duties responsibly.
Furthermore, there has been a rise in violence from frustrated customers facing delays in receiving their prescriptions or vaccines. Hogue explains that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have faced verbal abuse, threats, and even physical violence. This hostile environment further exacerbates the stress and challenges they encounter.
The decision to walk off the job is not taken lightly by pharmacists, but for many, it has become the last resort due to the stressful and unsafe working conditions. Hogue asserts that in such situations, pharmacists are trained to assess the circumstances and take appropriate action to ensure a safe environment. Some pharmacies have concluded that they cannot continue safely without additional staff.
Walgreens must address the concerns raised by its employees and take decisive action to improve working conditions and ensure the well-being of its pharmacy staff. Failure to do so may have serious consequences for both employees and patients.