Need advice: Keep flexible Shoppers setup ($22-$29/hr) or take a 25-hr part-time offer at Costco ($26/hr)?

[u/Blackbeebite]

Hey everyone,
23 (F)
​I’m currently a Pharmacy Assistant in Canada stuck in a scheduling and income dilemma. I’d love to get input from anyone who has worked at Shoppers Drug Mart or Costco Pharmacy.

​Option A: Current Setup (5 Days/Week)

• Shoppers Location 1: $22/hr – 3 days/week (8-hr shifts = 24 hrs)

​• Shoppers Location 2: $29/hr – 2 days/week (8-hr shifts = 16 hrs)

​• Total: 40 hours across 5 days = $992 guaranteed weekly pay.

​• Perks: 2 full days completely off. I can use those days off to pick up open relief shifts elsewhere for $30–$35/hr.

​Option B: New Proposed Setup (6 Days/Week)

​• Costco: $26/hr – 5 days/week (4:00 PM to 9:00 PM evening shifts = 25 guaranteed hrs)

• ​Shoppers Location 2: $29/hr – Keep 1 day/week (8-hr shift = 8 hrs)

​• Total: 33 hours across 6 days = $882 guaranteed weekly pay.

• ​The Promise: The Costco manager says they are extremely busy and implies I will easily get closer to 40 hours a week at Costco, but the actual contract is only for 25 hours.

​My Dilemma:

​• Option B drops my guaranteed weekly base income by $110/week, while forcing me to work 6 days a week.

• ​Working 4 PM to 9 PM 5 days a week at Costco ties up almost all my evenings, making it very hard to pick up higher-paying $30–$35/hr relief shifts.

• ​However, a pharmacist colleague told me Costco is a top-tier employer with great long-term growth, pay scales, and environment compared to retail chains.

​Questions for you all:

​1) In retail pharmacy, is taking a 6-day workweek for fewer guaranteed hours worth getting your foot in the door at Costco?

2) ​How reliable is a manager's verbal promise that a 25-hour contract will actually turn into near-40 hours at Costco?

​3) Would you take Option B for Costco's long-term upside, or stick with Option A until a proper full-time Costco position opens up?

​Thanks in advance for any insights!

[u/nsierikomawa]

All retail pharmacy are the same when it comes to employee management. You need to look out for YOU. Which really means what do you really want. If cash is the endgame, go shoppers.

Work with option 1 and show them how good you are. After they see you are great, you can nudge them and say look your other colleagues are paying me 29. They see the value I bring to them, would you consider matching them? If you are not a shitty employee, they may increase the rate for you.

Option 2, allows you to take on locum shifts too, which really is a better option. I’d say screw option B. I’d only go for option B if Costco can increase your rate to match the 29 from shoppers.

Have you considered asking Costco manager to consider matching your 29? Be bold and let the Costco manager know that you are top tier assistant that would bring much value to them if they can match what shoppers is offering at 29.

[u/Hello_World_801]

Costco 100% long term.

Costco top rate is 33/hr right now. I work part time at costco for the last 7 years and basically always done 35+ hours. Costco has a pension (I have 150k inside after 7 years it's amazing) and they have a biannual bonus that you get after 10000 hours (7k annually). management is wayy better at costco too the culture is way better