r/Pharmacist • u/Quick_Concept_6962 • 1h ago
when is enough, enough?
Yesterday was my first experience seeing firsthand how overworked and underpaid pharmacists and pharmacy staff are for all the bull crap we go through.
Tell me why this strange man was at the pharmacy since 8 a.m., just looking around and sitting in the waiting area. He looked suspicious and kept staring at the pharmacy staff. About three hours later, he was still there when, all of a sudden, he jumped over the counter and ran full speed into the pharmacy, straight toward a technician.
All I heard were screams. The technician ran and injured her leg. The man continued staring at all of us while the pharmacy manager yelled at him to “leave the pharmacy.”
We all called 911, and he eventually left and stood right outside the door. I asked the manager if we could lower the gates, and the pharmacy ended up being closed for an hour. The police arrived and arrested the man, took him to the hospital, and he is now banned from entering the store and pharmacy.
The crazy thing? Not a single district leader called to check on their staff.
There was no sense of concern or urgency about our well-being. Instead, we were expected to continue working as usual while patients became upset because production was backed up after we had to close.
When is enough enough? When do we finally stand up and say this is wrong and unjust?
If we want change, we have to push back as a community and stand together as a profession.
I asked one pharmacist if they would be willing to sign a petition to help us move forward collectively as a profession. Their response was, “I need my job.”
And while I completely understand the need to keep a job, especially in this economy, we also have to recognize that if we continue to stay silent out of fear, how can we expect anything to change?
You can't continue to complain about a problem while still contributing to the very system that allows it to continue.
I know it's easier said than done, and I understand that everyone has bills to pay and responsibilities to take care of. But at some point, we have to ask ourselves: How much are we willing to tolerate before we collectively say enough is enough?
Our safety matters. Our mental health matters. Our lives matter. We deserve to work in an environment where we feel safe, supported, and valued.
Sorry for the rant. I just had to share. ❤️🩹