PHARMACIST STEVE

“CVS Ousts Executives After Probe”

http://pharmacistactivist.com/2022/March_2022.shtml

As if CVS pharmacists and pharmacy technicians did not already experience enough anxiety, panic attacks, and other mental health challenges from the management-imposed metrics and policies that result in understaffed, stressful, and error-prone workplaces, the occurrence and mishandling of sexual harassment complaints has now become public. The title for this commentary is the one used for a recent Wall Street Journal story* (WSJ; Sharon Terlep, Suzanne Kapner; March 12-13, 2022; page B3).

Based on allegations and an internal investigation, CVS dismissed a regional manager who oversaw hundreds of stores, the executive who supervised him, a human-resources executive, and others. In a communication to staff, Karen Lynch, the CEO of CVS stated: “I want to be crystal clear: this company does not tolerate harassment or hostile, abusive or discriminatory behaviors of any kind from any employee – regardless of position…We also will not tolerate inaction from leaders who are responsible for escalating concerns or allegations raised by our colleagues.” The communication continues in noting that the company would improve its internal reporting and investigation processes, and had created a confidential communications channel to bring concerns to the attention of senior leaders.

The statements of the CVS CEO are commendable and seemingly unequivocal. However, the situations that occurred and her comments raise additional questions:

1. Would this situation have become publicly known if it were not for the discovery of WSJ reporters, or would it have been buried in confidential CVS corporate files? My long-term observations have been that CVS will take any action necessary to suppress information that could result in negative publicity.
2. Why have the individuals who have been terminated not been identified? In addition to CVS management, their identities are known to the WSJ reporters who reached out to them but did not receive a response or they refused to comment?
3. Although some will consider termination from an executive position to be a strong action, have these experiences and individuals been reported to law enforcement or regulatory agencies, or to organizations that accredit components of CVS operations? Might it be expected that the terminated individuals may be hired in executive positions at companies such as Walgreens, Walmart, or Rite Aid who may be impressed with their executive responsibilities at CVS but not be aware of the reasons for their departures?
4. What took so long for these experiences to be discovered by top management and for action to be taken? Although a thorough investigation takes time, there have been rumors and allegations on social media for many months from CVS employees who are familiar with these experiences but can’t report them for fear of retaliation. Could the high-level executives of CVS have been completely ignorant/oblivious to situations that were apparently known to numerous employees?
5. Are the situations reported in the WSJ story just the “tip of the iceberg?” In the short period of time since the story was published there have been social media posts from CVS employees about other experiences that seem similar or even worse.
6. Although the word “harassment” is commonly applied to inappropriate sexual comments or behaviors, it is also applicable to other situations such as intolerable and dangerous workplace conditions that are widely known. Are these not abusive behaviors that are among those that the CVS CEO indicates will not be tolerated? Now that a confidential channel of communication has been established for employees to bring concerns to CVS senior leaders, every CVS employee who is concerned that working conditions increase the risk of harmful and even fatal errors for customers, or jeopardize their own personal mental and physical health should document these experiences and communicate them through the confidential channel that has been established.
7. Will anything actually change at CVS?

Pharmacist Steve Ariens often brings to my attention pharmacy-related experiences of which I may be unaware. Last fall he shared with me the tragic news of the death of pharmacist Ashleigh Anderson who collapsed and died in the CVS store in which she worked in Indiana. My tribute to and commentary regarding Ashleigh is in the November 2021 issue of The Pharmacist Activist. Steve just forwarded to me a photo of a large billboard sign at the Scottsburg, Indiana northbound exit of I-65. The billboard includes an excellent photo of Ashleigh next to a heart that includes her first name and the dates of her birth and death. It also includes the designation #SHEWAITED, and the important message, “Your job can wait. Your heart can’t.” I highly commend and thank those who designed and posted this fine tribute to Ashleigh.

Filed under: General Problems