Best places to work for?

I am taking the certification test on December 13th. I was just wondering where the best places to work at are? I work at walgreens as of now(not in the pharmacy dept yet) and have been offered a job at cvs. Just wondering the pros and cons of working at each place. Thanks

I am Interning at CVS pharmacy here in Romney and I hate it. Way too busy and everyone is a hag. Im gonna try at independent pharmacys or a pharmacy in a grocery store. DO NOT work at CVS.

Derek in Romney, West Virginia said: I am Interning at CVS pharmacy here in Romney and I hate it. Way too busy and everyone is a hag. Im gonna try at independent pharmacys or a pharmacy in a grocery store. DO NOT work at CVS.

I agree CVS SUCKS!!! No matter how hard you work, it's never enough. Your hours will be cut without warning and they expect you to just "hang around" until they decide to offer you more. Resigning in about a month!!!

Is Walgreens any better ? I believe they are now the largest Pharmacy chain in the US ?

I am taking a specially goverment funded program to train as a Pharmacy Technician through CVS to get my certification. For those of you who have worked there, what did you like most about the job? And what do you completely hate about the job?

So far I've got nothing but bad reviews. I don't want to pass up the opportunity for free training but I'm a little apprehensive about going there if it's as bad as people say it is.

For 18 years I was a retail tech-I developed allergies to the compounding materials-wear mask and gloves while compounding kids! Also be aware that most pharmacies to not have proper ventilation so you are exposed to chemical dust.You are basically expected to treat toxic chemicals like they are salt and pepper. The pharmacist gets paid more but you are exposed to more chemicals.
You are at the whim of passive-aggressive pharmacists who can pick you all day-and assign you to the yelling customer. I would do some careercruising before embarking on this career path.

Don't waste your time!!!
They pay sucks and they will use and abuse you!!!

Its not always busy it all depends in the area and the store! Yes sometimes you may get a nasty customer or two but the more you work the more you develop a relationship with the customers! They know you and you know them, I work for CVS for 3 years now and I love it

CVS is the worst place to work!!! They will use and abuse you!!! You owe it to yourself to never work there.

Has anyone worked with any staffing agencies nationwide? I'm trying to figure out which ones are top notch and which ones to avoid. Thanks for your help!

never work for CVS especially in the Pharmacy!! They dont let you take your lunches or breaks.

Most of the Pharmacist may be book smart but have NO Common sense!!!!

You break the law everyday!!!! Violate Hipaa rules!!!

If the customers only knew how you discuss their information with other employees,,,,should I say more!!!

inyourface in Decatur, Georgia said: never work for CVS especially in the Pharmacy!! They dont let you take your lunches or breaks.

Most of the Pharmacist may be book smart but have NO Common sense!!!!

You break the law everyday!!!! Violate Hipaa rules!!!

If the customers only knew how you discuss their information with other employees,,,,should I say more!!!

Not true. You are entitled by the FEDERAL LAW to a 15 mins break or 30mins total for an 8hr day. There should be a flier that has the federal work laws posted in your break room that states everything.

Ash in Cleveland, Ohio said: I am taking a specially goverment funded program to train as a Pharmacy Technician through CVS to get my certification. For those of you who have worked there, what did you like most about the job? And what do you completely hate about the job?

So far I've got nothing but bad reviews. I don't want to pass up the opportunity for free training but I'm a little apprehensive about going there if it's as bad as people say it is.

I work at CVS and from my point of view, they don't appreciate their employees enough. Not trusting their employees is one of their main problems! We get bag checked, all our purses n belongings must be in our lockers, must take off smock before leaving. can't clock in early. Sh*tty employee discount. I thought our discount was okay until a lot of the patients had their discount card through their insurance and had an agreement with cvs so they had teh same discount tag as us with the same percetages off.

Ok,,,I want to vent about CVS Pharmacy! I don't get paid enough to do your job jerks!!!!
Customers want to know why service is not there. Let's go over some facts!!!
1. CVS Pharmacist make over 100,000 a year so CVS can not afford the proper staff to support the business in the pharmacy.
2. Most Phamacist are hired out of college so YES too young and immature to run a pharmacy. They gossip like they are in high school...get over yourself!!!!
3. Missfills happen more than you think. I witness atleast 2 to 3 a week.
4. Pharmacist put too much responsiblilty on the tech eventhough it's unlawful
how does CVS Pharm break the law.
allow techs to accept oral prescriptions;leave it up to the tech for certification of a filled or finished scrips or drug order when the Dr makes A MISTAKES have techs call to verify. If patient have questions let techs consult through Pharmacist especially when they are too lazy to do it themselves!!!!
Breaks Hipaa laws all day long. I have more to say but I have to be at school in the morning and study !!!!

I agree!!! Enough is enough

I'm an immigrant. I was born in south america.I came to this country 18 years ago. I can not go to school because I did not know english at all, but I went to school and got my diploma, then I got my licese but the problem now with this rite aid pharmacy. they never trained me enough for this kind of job. they fired me becouse my english. the pharmacy was in charge told me I need to speak perfect english. my comment is why people go to school.They treat me like stuped person.

I have worked for CVS Pharmacy for over 2 years now. I started out as a cashier and am now the Lead Pharmacy Technician. I have had 6 raises since becoming employed for the company. The store I currently work for has have 5 different store managers(3 in 2008 alone) and 2 PIC in the short time I have been at the company. I've lost count of how many techs have come and gone. Not because of being fired but because after a while the mistreatment and unappreaciation finally takes it toll. From my experience CVS seems to be primarily concerned with expansion and growth versus quality customer service and the health and wellbeing of its customers and employees. Every month we seem to have some new program to promote growth in the company. Each week it seems we lose more and more tech hours. More work...less help...I hate my job.

SexiSag1985 in Morrow, Georgia said: I have worked for CVS Pharmacy for over 2 years now. I started out as a cashier and am now the Lead Pharmacy Technician. I have had 6 raises since becoming employed for the company. The store I currently work for has have 5 different store managers(3 in 2008 alone) and 2 PIC in the short time I have been at the company. I've lost count of how many techs have come and gone. Not because of being fired but because after a while the mistreatment and unappreaciation finally takes it toll. From my experience CVS seems to be primarily concerned with expansion and growth versus quality customer service and the health and wellbeing of its customers and employees. Every month we seem to have some new program to promote growth in the company. Each week it seems we lose more and more tech hours. More work...less help...I hate my job.

I agree with you!!! We allow them to abuse us,, it just takes a group of us to get the ball rolling!!! We should contact a union on info!! Call the ethics line and report all problems 1 877 cvs 2040 also let the Georgia department of labor know how they abuse you!!! Take a stand!!!

CVS needs to be sued!!!!

I just moved to a new location much better than my old one but they still don't allow us to take our 2 15 minute breaks... WTF is wrong with this company!!! I think techs need a union!!! Are you with me ;)

Yes techs need a union!!!!

relativity is the name of the game. "illegal" breaks, thats a laugh! i've worked construction for 10 yrs.lately,("wearing a plastic box-hardhat,eating from a plastic box-lunchbox,crapping in a plastic box-porta potty summer heat/winter cold...sound like fun to y'all?) you get a break when the boss says. bosses the world over have the "God complex", it doesn't matter what the work is. It's not hard to see the child poseing as an adult. makes me wanna put fist to face! i worked at kmart pharm and an independant one in Ann Arbor. decent folks all. not certified going in but thereafter, 8$ was the going rate..not treated like a big deal being certified. didn't see any significant money in 3 yrs. generally hospitals pay more than retail, doesn't mean jerk bosses don't exist there too. we're all just "living the dream". rock on my brothers and sisters!

Maddi you live a lil closer to me have you tried somewhere like ABCCM, PSC Med Supply or WNCCHS? Blueridgerx would be good too, these are all private, medicaid funded, or LTC pharmacies with quality pharmacists on staff.

I would definitely stay away from CVS unless you love a "high energy" environment (i.e. stressful). Do not accept any job offer from them below $12-$14 an hour, because believe me, you will never get any meaningful raise after that unless you're sleeping with the Pharmacy Supervisor or DM (not joking). You'll be lucky if you even get your yearly review, and even that is capped at 4%, MAX. I've never heard of anyone getting 4%, because that means there is nothing to improve upon in your store; so unless your store got 100% for Triple S the entire year, think more along the lines of 1-2% raise. IMO, don't waste your time in retail unless you work for an independent; try to get a hospital job instead.

Wondering what the differences between hospital and retail pharmacy is such as: Wages, hours, and responsibilities?

I work in a hospital and I love it! It still has its down sides, and there are still pharmacists with god-complexed. I deliver drugs during surgeries. The anesthesiologists and scrub nurses are really appreciative and say "thank you" and sound like they mean it!
There have been a lot of techs coming in from CVS that say how much better it is at the hospital.

Ash in Cleveland, Ohio said: I am taking a specially goverment funded program to train as a Pharmacy Technician through CVS to get my certification. For those of you who have worked there, what did you like most about the job? And what do you completely hate about the job?

So far I've got nothing but bad reviews. I don't want to pass up the opportunity for free training but I'm a little apprehensive about going there if it's as bad as people say it is.

HOW DID YOU GET FUNDED PROGRAM TO TRAIN AS A PHARMACY TECHNICIAN THROUGH CVS? I WENT TO A FEW WALGREENS BUT NO LUCK YET. IAM VERY INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PHARMACY TECH, ANY POINTERS

mimi178 in Spokane, Washington said: Not true. You are entitled by the FEDERAL LAW to a 15 mins break or 30mins total for an 8hr day. There should be a flier that has the federal work laws posted in your break room that states everything.

i know that there should be something of that nature posted in the break room, but guess what, walgreens doesnt have one posted! want to know why?! WE DONT GET BREAKS! not even the pharmacists. we usually have one pharmacist a night and how are they supposed to take a break? managers cant relieve pharmacist!

Cvs sucks!!!!

usedandabused in Duluth, Georgia said: Don't waste your time!!!
They pay sucks and they will use and abuse you!!!

CVS absolutely does suck ! It is well known in the city of Woonsocket and surrounding areas that CVS treats their employees like crap ! Many dr's in the area will tell you that they have so many people on stress medication that work for them !My friend worked there and six of seven of his lunch partners were on traquilizers !

CVS will brag about never having a layoff , yeah sure ! Instead what they do is walk out people that have been there for many years and they tell them they don't know what they're doing ! If that's the case why did the person never have a written or verbal warning in as much as 35+ years ???? I would think there's a law against a company that does this to very good and capable people !

CVS YEARS AGO WAS A GREAT COMPANY TO WORK FOR ...... Till the latest CEO came along ..... CVS has nothing to be proud of !!!

Ash in Cleveland, Ohio said: I am taking a specially goverment funded program to train as a Pharmacy Technician through CVS to get my certification. For those of you who have worked there, what did you like most about the job? And what do you completely hate about the job?

So far I've got nothing but bad reviews. I don't want to pass up the opportunity for free training but I'm a little apprehensive about going there if it's as bad as people say it is.

cvs is the worst place to work at you will not be train properly and they will except you to the job of ten tech..the pay is crappy!

Ash in Cleveland, Ohio said: I am taking a specially goverment funded program to train as a Pharmacy Technician through CVS to get my certification. For those of you who have worked there, what did you like most about the job? And what do you completely hate about the job?

So far I've got nothing but bad reviews. I don't want to pass up the opportunity for free training but I'm a little apprehensive about going there if it's as bad as people say it is.

Ash in Cleveland ......... The best thing about the people working at CVS corporate office are the wonderful people working there ! They really care about each other ! Good thing well are almost non existing ! After 20+ years I was told I didn't know what I was doing ,, typical CVS way ro get rid of long time employees ! I never had a verbal or written warning !~ They'll either walk you out or make your life hell and you'll decide to walk out !

I wish you well in your endeavors , nobody deserves to be treated like CVS treats their employees !

I wouldn't work for CVS just because they don't appreciate their employees. The CVS I work for gives you a 2% raise once a year and that's it. Don't work there if you want to make a decent amount of money

I was nationally certified in2004. I hold a current state license, am current on all of my continuing education. Every time I try to apply for a technician's job, they want at least a year of experience of on the job. After putting so much time, effort, and money in this I am pretty discouraged and am wondering if a major mistake was made even going for the certification.

I am right there with you.One thing that I know about this is that it is all about who you know and you CAN'T bite the hand that feeds you.It sucks!!!You really have to just grin and bare it. And a raise HA! Good luck your best bet is to get into the prison system.

To anyone who wants to know CVS is the crappiest pharamcy to work for. I work there for a few years then finally got me a good paying/more friendly job at the hospital. So you had best believe when I had to get a part time job because of crappy economy CVS wasn't my number one choice. I didn't have many options at the time so I ended up back there which completely reminded me of why I quit in the first place. They don't pay well for one, pharmacists are know it alls, you work like a slave, and go home limping, for like $10 an hour! They don't care if your certified and/or how experiencd you are, they act like everyone is expendable and you can come or go, they could care less. Well, that's my piece, yall take care and good luck with getting a good job, but don't work for CVS!!!

What is working at one of these no patient prescription filling corporate places like? Can anyone get a job there with no experience? I suspected being a retail pharmacy tech was a nightmare, how bad is it in a hospital? I am considering becoming a tech but am very very wary of what I may be getting into. Please give me your opinions. I live in Minnesota where there are loads of hospitals.

mimi178 in Spokane, Washington said: Not true. You are entitled by the FEDERAL LAW to a 15 mins break or 30 mins total for an 8hr day. There should be a flier that has the federal work laws posted in your break room that states everything.

You would hope that federal laws would make a difference in the working environment, but unfortunately, they don't. I've gotten dirty looks from my co-workers when I asked if I could sit down for 5 minutes after I'd been on my feet (running at times) for 6+ hours. Then they made a comment about how I should be wearing more comfortable shoes.

I just needed some retail experience to get into the field (I graduated pre-pharmacy at UCLA and am planning to go to pharmacy school), and I wonder why I should take such mistreatment at this place for $10 an hour. I've only been here for a few days now but I'm already considering other options.

ALL the negative comments on this site are true. Even about going home practically limping.

usedandabused in Duluth, Georgia said: Don't waste your time!!!
They pay sucks and they will use and abuse you!!!

the walgreens where I worked the people are nice, but the Mgr is rude and mean. People sometimes in upper mgnt sometimes forget how to treat people. I recieved a good evaluation. But still I and everyone else is treated badly.

mimi178 in Spokane, Washington said: Not true. You are entitled by the FEDERAL LAW to a 15 mins break or 30mins total for an 8hr day. There should be a flier that has the federal work laws posted in your break room that states everything.

Sorry been with cvs for 3 years have to beg for breaks and getting someone to cover lunches what a joke. My pharmacist us great and has a lot if knowledgeto bad she took on the pharmacy manager position now she to busy to care about her patients. I hate cvs

I trying to find a place where I can work. I been looking for a job every since I got home. I work for walgreens in dallas and I had a baby they laid me off. I going to take my take later this year. What place is hiring for tech?

All these comments unfortunately are true in regard to retail pharmacy situations. Federal laws do not protect us.If you are working retail you probably are not wealthy and do not have the means or the time for lawyers and court costs. I have witnessed first hand many good people have their hours cut or very mistreated until they quit if they even want to discuss breaks and lunches. I have been a technician for 10 years and if you want to be treated with any dignity or professionalism YOU NEED TO LEAVE RETAIL and enter into the hospital sector. There is a completely different feeling and good technicians are generally appreciated and treated with respect. Even if you need to volunteer to start out just to get your foot in the door, it is worth the time you invest.

I have experience the same thing, I am certified pharmacy technician in January 2008, everytime I applied the job , they always said that I don't have experience. How come people get experience if all company don't want to hire them.

So I use to be in the same boat as all of you or most of you! But only difference is I slaved away @ Duane Reade. @ first when they promoted me I received 7.50, what da **** is that? Its ok I am in school. But after being certified all I got was 10.00 which eventually raised to 12.40 retail is garbage! Pharmacists think they are above the law and they are lazy! They won't even answer the phone, or counsel patients! As for the lunch break thing that happened to some of my co-workers but I wud always threaten to call NY1 lol. I finally left that abusive job and I am now a medical receptionist making $16 an hr. Techs deserve justice and our starting pay shud be 12.50 and hr! When they regulate it so that we have to be certified then and only then will they respect us.

LOVELIFE09 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island said: CVS absolutely does suck ! It is well known in the city of Woonsocket and surrounding areas that CVS treats their employees like crap ! Many dr's in the area will tell you that they have so many people on stress medication that work for them !My friend worked there and six of seven of his lunch partners were on traquilizers !

CVS will brag about never having a layoff , yeah sure ! Instead what they do is walk out people that have been there for many years and they tell them they don't know what they're doing ! If that's the case why did the person never have a written or verbal warning in as much as 35+ years ???? I would think there's a law against a company that does this to very good and capable people !

CVS YEARS AGO WAS A GREAT COMPANY TO WORK FOR ...... Till the latest CEO came along ..... CVS has nothing to be proud of !!!

I would love to talk to you. I was currently interviewed by an agency to work in one of their offices.
I thought the pay for what I was going to do was very low.. how can I get in touch with you .. I am waiting for another offer somewhere and really don't want to take this.

People... Costco is where its at.

I have been an employee for little over 4 years. The company is to busy buying other companies to get rid of the competition. They don't pay for crap. They treat their employees like they are expendable. In the 4 yrs I have been there I have only have 2 raises.

The other thing is that I am a license Technician and can't work in the pharmacy. Every transfers to another store to work in the pharmacy somehow been cancelled in the middle. I was told my the Dm that I have no future in CVS to move on. As soon as I finish school I am gone from that place.

CVS really sucks to work for. If you can work in a union store you have some protection and if you don't like I do you all alone.

If I were you, and was starting over again, I'd run like h--- if offered a job as a retail pharmacy tech. The working conditions are terrible, the pharmacists don't have (and don't have to have) any experience or training in how to supervise, the customers have free license to treat you like a piece of crap, the pay is terrible, and the responsibilities keep increasing.

Run! Fast! Before it's too late!

Seriously.... The question was: What is the best place to work for? Not the worst, they already have another comment area for that, and it's ONLY CVS bashing...

I do my pharmacy tech internship at a Walgreens. I absolutely LOVE IT. At least I have awesome co-workers and very nice pharmacists. One of them buys food for the technicians every wednesday! I don't mind working for free for them. And if they ever needed me again, I would never say no.

But that's relative to who works in the pharmacy. I hear alot of complaints about other Walgreens pharmacists. I heard one got their car shot down cause the person was a jerk.

So I'd say from my experience, Walgreens is great! But it depends on who you work with like many other jobs. I guess you should really ask the technicians how they feel were t hey work, if the pharmacist is understand or at least nice. Cause I've had pharmacists come to mine for just one day to fill, and they're just like robots and don't care about the employee at all. Like I said, it depends on the people and the volume of prescriptions!

inyourface in Decatur, Georgia said: never work for CVS especially in the Pharmacy!! They dont let you take your lunches or breaks.

Most of the Pharmacist may be book smart but have NO Common sense!!!!

You break the law everyday!!!! Violate Hipaa rules!!!

If the customers only knew how you discuss their information with other employees,,,,should I say more!!!

I am sure that the pharmacy employees where I used to have my prescriptions filled had a similar point of view about HIPAA, until I slapped them with a HIPAA violation. For those employees who still have their job, I doubt that they will have quite the same cavalier attitude that they used to have regarding patient privacy.