Live to work or work to live? - Pharmacy Manager CVS Health Employee Review

1.0
Jan 17, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

CVS is a job and won't be going anywhere soon

Cons

Sharply increased work:resources after Aetna merger, pharmacists frequently working longer than they are compensated for. Middle management consistently tells subordinates in blanket emails how poorly they are performing despite working more than they are compensated for. Initial pay is 10% less now than 3 years ago with pharmacy managers expected to work off the clock to get it done. Everyone's job is regularly threatened now, yet the poorest performers somehow remain employed. Don't work here as a pharmacist if you wish to remain functional outside your job. Pharmacists' conversations outside work center on how they hate their job. It hasn't always been this way but started to become the norm about a year ago. I've been here 10+ years but would like this year to be my last with the company. Bon voyage!

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5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

good work life balance always

Cons

work can feel siloed sometimes

5.0
Dec 13, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I learned a lot working there as far as how to run a business as well as how to develop a team. I had one of the most successful teams in the company ranking as the top store year over year in two separate markets, one in the Northeast one in the Southeast. I was a paragon winner with the company as well. My most recent DM was very supportive. I genuinely thank them for the opportunity and the knowledge that I acquired while working with them.

Cons

Work hours were excessive. To be successful hours worked were borderline slavery. While I willingly worked them to be successful, the week you didn't you were immediately behind. Vacations were almost non existent due to constant visitors from corporate stopping in to do reviews. Holiday weeks were paid 4 days regular 1 holiday and you worked all 5. The facade of the stores looking great when these people stop by versus the reality of the business is polarizing. There were always teams of people and excessive expenditures of payroll thrown into stores prior to their visits. While I understood the need to make an appearance, it was always will always be a backwards way off thinking. Company preaches quality of life for their clients while quality of life for their employees is non-existent. As a "manager" in your average store you will be "managing" a total of one person during your shift, with a total of 10 people at location. Location open hours will exceed total payroll hours ie Sun-Sat 7am-10pm = 15hrs per day x 7 days x 2 people = 210 hrs which excludes the need to have a person unload deliveries that come in during non opened hours. Your budgeted hours will be approximately 208 hrs. I will only mention that during the month of December that there are extended hours for the stores but no budgeted hours to accommodate. Stores are held to strict shrink targets with little to no control over external theft. Remember 2 people at location, if four people enter to steal there is nothing you can do to stop them. These are facts not personal prejudices.

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