Ariella Fahey D.
Run for your life
Run for your life! I worked here for 3 long years in different departments, received certifications, wanted to get involved in their courses to improve my professional outlook for internal use and have met countless people who have said the same thing -trash. CULTURE - CVS culture. It doesn't matter the position or department the entire company is run with the idea of putting the next person down, holding them back and playing "power" games. It's about intimidation and being fake i.e. "corporate". It's a "fight" just for things like a schedule to start at 9 instead of 12.... like what the fudge. Who fights about these things? This is not Silicone Valley. We are not designing a spacecraft to get to the Mars so why so much low level competition? Direct example.... THE MANAGERS TELL YOU THEY "DON'T ACCEPT DOCTORS NOTES" but, they have an entire leave of absence department that does. The managers may not physically take them (they do sign them with coaxing when the leave department sends them later on) but, what about the person who is pregnant, has a wheelchair, broken foot, gets into a car accident, gets the flu or has PTSD you mean to tell me that a health company doesn't accept doctors notes for these medically recognized issues or serious ailments? No they do. Even allow you to input several different restrictions according to the ADA. It's just frowned upon to have your own identity and be yourself as if. "Oh my gosh you mean you're not perfect like the rest of us?" I'm sorry for being human. Did I miss some part of the job application process where it says I cannot be? It becomes a "fight" just to be able to be yourself or for things like a schedule to start at 9 instead of 12.... like what the fudge. Who fights about these things? This is not Silicone Valley. We are not designing a spacecraft to get to the Mars so why so much low level competition? Goodness forbid you push back on anything and you will be blackballed a troublemaker with your fire date looming -I learned this quickly watching others. After discussions with many previous employees of CVS from varying departments they all said the same thing. The "power" issues come from management because you know they are getting it. Like the saying goes... The fish rots from the head Mr. Larry Merlo I AM referring to you. Yes you... BENEFITS -Considering they are a health company these need to be on par and they are moderately normal. They contribute $1000/year for an HSA account but, the health insurance really isn't that great with 80/20 your copays are pretty high so the $1000 goes quickly. Forget about trying to use it for non-maintenance items. When I left there was a $1700/deductible for single people as the min. health insurance plan, a healthy amount of discounts, short term, long term disability, term life insurance, good/decent stock options (6% ROR) etc. The pharmacy plan you are required to go through is a mess according to most doctors offices. The "nurses" at the health insurance do not understand the urgency of certain medications and/or directions from the physicians at all. LYING --If you are from New England then you are very familiar with CVS as a company and it becomes a sense of pride to work for them then you actually work for them and your mind changes.The associates are told to lie to customers by managers then expect the employees to be truthful towards them then will use them as a scapegoat if there back is against the wall or it's convenient. Employees suck up to managers then befriend others just for advancements or to be liked and no one has their own identity. You have families with mother, father, son, uncle, etc all working here so everyone is covering each other and/or in someone else's business. You DO NOT get credit just for doing good or decent work but, let the next guy who does suck up they will. They might even get promoted while you will get overlooked and put down -happens 99% of the time. What happened to being an Equal Opportunity Employer? Doesn't exist here... they are being sued on a regular basis for this and a myriad of other issues. DAY TO DAY WORK - The work itself is very run of the mill and normal as they are already a large established company so advancement isn't really there, more lateral moves than anything. The culture just overrides everything. It's the unwritten rules of the game which make it so unbearable. That is not business and this is NOT a business I will ever work in again or suggest to anyone Overall, if you are just looking for a job to pay your bills and go home then run. If you are looking to work for a large company who wants to promote from within run. I would stop being a customer if they were not the preferred pharmacy for practically every health insurance plan in existence and just as big as they are. The sheer volume of stores and customers they cover now with all there takeovers of smaller stores has gotten to the companies head where they no longer are kind to anyone, hospitable or professional. Here they will expect you to work overtime for many hours then turn around and blame you when things don't go according to plan. The benefits are all why I lasted as long as I did and now I thank God I am out. I hope you do the same and heed my warning. You don't know how bad it is until you're gone at least for a few months then you realize that's seriously what I was upset about?