This incident happen about six years ago.. as the surplus of RPH was just starting. IMO.. this is a good example of a RPH that was naive enough not to employe an attorney for advice before making a decision and/or not clearly understanding all the “fine print” in what they are agreeing to. Under Federal Law.. any termination agreement.. a employee has 24 hrs to review before signing.. UNLESS the employee is over 50.. Then they have THREE WEEKS to review the agreement. Best advice.. NEVER SIGN ANYTHING drawn up by an attorney.. UNLESS it has been read by an attorney that is working for you.
I used to work for CVS and was forced to retire early. I turned 60 on Feb. 28, 2008 with no immediate plans to retire. In fact my full retirement benefits would not have started till August this year when I will be 66 and 1/2.
Six years ago, the District Manager called to tell me to report to the office as soon as a replacement pharmacist arrived. He explained to me that I was impaired. As soon as he hung up, I asked the store manager to come back to the pharmacy for a brief conversation. I told her what he said, and I told her I was probably going to get fired for being impaired. She replied, “No, you’re not impaired. Just ask the District Manager to call me, and I will confirm it.” When I got to the office, the District Manager refused to call her. He accused me of drinking and bringing it to work. Both were false. He did not give me a breathalyzer. If he had tested me, it would have turned out negative. He gave me the option of going on FMLA leave under the Employee Assistance Plan with 60% salary or being terminated. I knew that I was not drinking, but he tricked me.
I ended up at treatment facility – one state away – to comply with the rules. When I entered the treatment facility, they breathalized me and took a urine sample. Both were negative, but I had to stay anyway because of the FMLA deal. I needed the money to pay for the treatment and to pay my usual household bills. I had to spend 6 months with the treatment including halfway house.
It may be just coincidental…but I believe that SIX MONTHS is the time frame a person has to file a claim for age discrimination under EEOC.
I extended my leave to 1 year with the approval of my doctor and the CVS main office in Woonsocket RI. When I returned home, I called the District Office, and the District Office told me that I had been terminated. This was in five years ago . I filed for Unemployment benefits, and CVS tried to block the checks, but the Employment Security Commission took my side and awarded me benefits under the full extent of the Federal system.
It took several months for me to receive benefits,, and I ran out of money. I couldn’t pay for the drug tests any more. Almost 3 years later , the Board of Pharmacy suspended me.
I believe that this is the same BOP.. that a young CVS RPH filed a complaint with the BOP about this RPH being forced by CVS to break at least 3 different parts of the practice act.. and what did this BOP do ?… gave CVS a WARNING LETTER.. Here is the conclusion of a recent report from a state of audit of this BOP
In fact, board records found 35 percent of pharmacies have not been inspected in four or more years and 21 percent weren’t inspected in the past six years or more.
When I called them, they told me that I had to be readmitted for inpatient treatment just to get an assessment. I am on Medicare, and the expense is not covered. The board told me that if the assessment showed I didn’t need treatment, I could appear before the board. The catch is that I can’t pay for it. In all this time I have not been drinking, nor was I drinking when this all started. In fact, the secretary in the District Office told me that the District Manager had to find jobs for the new pharmacists already working for CVS as interns. So; I know it was a setup. I am now 66 years old, and I wish there was a way to work again, just part-time. I began collecting SS benefits at a reduced rate since I was 62. My paycheck is a lot less than it was a few years ago. I lost my home to foreclosure, as a result.
I don’t see how what CVS or the BOP is legal. When you asked, “Who will stand up for pharmacy?” I’ll say that I will. I have got nothing to lose. I have already lost it. I would like to see a law enacted to make what CVS and the BOP did a crime. They acted without evidence. I would like to see both of them do time in prison, and I would like a decent monetary settlement for my loss. And I would like someone to listen to me. And thanks for taking time to listen. You may send me a reply. If there is any way I can help the cause, you can count on me, but I have no money.
This is the third time that I have heard about a RPH.. being terminated – according to the RPH – by being falsely accused of being impaired, theft, substance abuse. Then, like this story… the corporation tries to use the “fired for cause” to deny the person unemployment. It is a long explanation but when a former employee collects unemployment, the per-cent of wages that the employer has to pay to the unemployment fund.. could go up.. in some states that can be up to 9% of part/all of the company’s wages.
In today’s corporate work environment.. all that years of dedication, doing a good job.. all that “good will” that you thought you were banking.. means BUPKIS to those up the corporate ladder.. That good will account is a MIRAGE..
Once they have decided that you are headed out the front door.. you are nothing more to the corporation than a financial liability.. that they will employ all the laws available to them. to minimize that cost.
Perhaps this RPH had unknowingly pissed off some “shirt” and their idea of revenge is nothing short of destroying his/her life… and probably had a few chuckles and a few “that-a-boy” from other “shirts”.
Filed under: General Problems
@Kafi….contact me…Steve can give you my info.
reach me at ktftd@yahoo.com queen of hearts.
we should create a web page for any rph fired from any of the chains to tell their story and we will begin to see a pattern.
Lets us compile all this types of letter and forward to office of civil rights or put on a site, where an attorney could take it up.
i am willing to take a stand as well.
You can reach me through steve.
I was an ex CVS pharmacist.
They terminated me in favor of a long standing pharmacist who has a habit of verbally abusing any Rph sent to work in that store, and when I would not stand for her nonsense, I was taken out of that store and terminated, and I filed with EEOC. EEOC made them move this crap of shit. It was like a deathknel for her and CVS, because, she was their profit machine at this store. On the long run, this pharmacist died working for CVS. Cvs is still open doing business, the pharmacist is feet under. Karma is bad!
how awful, i am so sorry op. there really are no words, justice really does need to be done for actions being taken against so many.
I keep my attorney on speed dial!