Insider's view: Managers are under constant MUR pressure too
A pharmacist who has worked for several multiples talks anonymously to C+D about the MUR targets set for locums and managers
If, as a store manager, you failed to deliver MURs, you would not receive a pay increase and your manager’s bonus would be reduced substantially.
Leaked letter to locums at Cohens Chemist - 2013
Subject: VARIATION OF TERMS OF LOCUM CONTRACT
Dear pharmacist,
I write to inform you that we have reviewed our
locum rates and propose to set them as follows:
• £21 per hour provided that you conduct two
MURs or more during the course of the day.
• £19 per hour if two MURs are not completed
during the course of the day.
This amendment is effective from April 1, 2013.
If you are booked to work in branches that do not
have a consultation room or have already completed
400 MURs for the year, you will be paid £21 per hour
automatically.
You will be paid at £19 per hour
unless you complete a locum feedback form to
report that you have completed a minimum of
two MURs.
All other terms of the locum contract you have
signed with us will remain unchanged. Unless we
hear from you to the contrary, we will assume your
acceptance.
Yours sincerely,
Cohens
How did the companies respond?
C+D approached both Boots and Cohens for a comment in response to the accusations that the pay of managers of both companies is tied explicitly to MUR targets.
Both stressed that they are among many multiples that incentivise staff for good service. Zoe Serrant, head of operations and superintendent pharmacist at Cohens, said the multiple – which has more than 160 pharmacies in the north-west of England and across the UK – values “every one of our staff”.
Boots said it would not comment on an individual case, but said that pay for pharmacists and managers is assessed “against a broad range of objectives”.
Read the companies' full responses here.
Are you a pharmacy manager under MUR pressure?
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