The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7206 p44
13 July 2002

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News summary

Absence fears lead to longer hours for independents

Pharmacists working in independent community pharmacies are putting in long hours and some are skipping holidays because of fears about what might happen when they are not there and because of competition from supermarkets, according to a new survey.

Eagle Star's small business insurance division found that 31 per cent of pharmacists questioned said that they put in long hours in order to compete with 24-hour supermarkets and garages. The same number also believed that they could not trust anyone else to run their business.

One in 10 was putting in a 70-hour week and 14 per cent said they worked an additional 25 hours a week after their premises had closed.

Holidays also came low on the priority list, with 23 per cent saying they did not take holidays and 8 per cent saying that it was four or more years since they took one. One of the main reasons for not taking holidays was a fear of what might happen while they were away. Vandalism, burglary and thefts by staff were the main concerns.

Among those who did take holidays, 26 per cent visited their own pharmacies while ostensibly away and 17 per cent had asked friends or family to act as mystery shoppers to check thing were running smoothly while they were absent.