I have been invited to interview for a position as a Pharmacy Tech. What are some of the pros and cons of working for a Kroger Pharmacy. What are some the benefits and the starting pay rate?
In my division pharmacy techs get 2 weeks vacation, 7 PH days, pay starts off at min. wage but jumps up rather quickly. You have phases you go through, and get a raise at each raise. Phase 1 is your CBT's, etc no raise for that one, Phase 2 is book work -knowing sigs, knowing generics/brands/uses, reading insurance cards, which controlled substances are which and on.. that's a 75 cent raise. Phase 3 is computer practicals and knowing the EPRN program, that's a $1.00 raise. Phase 4 is another $1.00 raise. Get to be a lead tech and that's another $1 raise. Get your CPhT certification and its another $1 raise.
I love working in the pharmacy. I'm very precise and a touch OCD, and those are two traits that flourish in there. The downside is people hate spending money on their drugs. They will get mean and nasty about it. If they try to fill their methadone or adderall too soon, they will try to find ways to get it and think they can pull one over on you. That part is exhausting at times, but you know who they tend to be. People are sick, and they're crabby. People are old, and they're crabby. I had a REVEREND jump down my throat the other day because of his meds not being covered by his insurance...because really, it's my fault.
Benefits are good, they're the same as the other non-union workers in the store, and the pay is better than out on the floor, the raises are much better than out on the floor! You also get cash bonuses and annual merit raises.
I am not sure where you work, but I have been with the company for about 2 yrs now. We have 5 paid holidays. 72 hrs of vacation. Love the job, almost perfect, but as with anything it has dropped a wee-bit. As far as we did have 7 paid holidays. The store I work at we hadn't had an hr lady for almost as long as I have been there. Therefore its been a bit chaotic to say the least. We had 5 fulltime positions where I started now only 2 people are full-time. Thou business has increased drastically. We have no "lead-tech" due to the pic doesn't want to give that title to any one tech. He micro manages. Where he should be handing that to the teches to do. He makes it more stressful on the other pharmacist and staff. It takes him at least 4 to 6 hours to do what should take no longer than 30 minutes... The senior tech we had did the scheduling in abt 10 to 20 minutes. Done. Plus this new pic who has been there for about a year and a half we have lost about all of our staff.
I've been working as a certified pharmacy tech for a year. Benefits - none so far. Pay - $8.30 per hour. Every 1000 hours or so there will be a 5c raise. My availability is pretty open and I get scheduled no more than 12 hours per week. You need to be able to multitask and deal with rude customers. Most of customers are very nice though, and if you enjoy working with people, fast pace environment and answering 100000000000000 phone calls a day this is a great job :)
I think this is a great job for students or people who have a second income, because $80.00 weekly paychecks are a joke.