The Great Resignation: How Is It Impacting the Pharmacy Industry?

It’s being called the Great Resignation, and for good reason. During April, May, and June alone, more than 11 million people left their jobs. A survey of more than 30,000 people revealed that more than 40 percent are thinking about leaving their jobs.

What is driving this phenomenon? The primary driver is the disruption caused by COVID-19. Many have said that the time spent working remotely has caused them to think about their situation and their jobs. For many, the stress and burnout they experience are leading them to reevaluate. Others are angry about the decisions made by their employers during COVID-19, such as heavy-handed cost-cutting measures with little regard for the situation of workers.

Still, others are more concerned about work-life balance. They are tired of long commutes and long hours. Many workers are hesitant to return to their workplaces because they don’t believe their employers have taken the steps needed to protect workplaces from the virus.

And others are simply dissatisfied with the culture of their workplace. They feel that management does not communicate with them, takes them for granted, and does not recognize their contribution.

Why Pharmacists Are Leaving

More pharmacists are leaving their jobs as well. According to some in the profession, working conditions for pharmacists have deteriorated in recent years, and the pandemic was the straw that broke the camel’s back in many ways. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic also contributed to resignations.

People go into the pharmacy profession to help others, but more and more, they are forced into roles that remove them from the clinical side of their profession, they say. The business side of things has come to dominate, controlling what they do each day to an ever-greater extent. The stress levels for pharmacists have also increased dramatically, with burnout rates anywhere from 50 to 70 percent.

The younger generation of pharmacists also has different expectations and goals, valuing work-life balance more, as well as greater flexibility. And the pandemic has led many pharmacists to reevaluate their situation. They found more satisfaction with their jobs when working remotely because they were able to have more flexibility and spend more time with their family.

Employers can help improve working conditions for pharmacists and reduce stress levels in many ways – encouraging managers to prioritize staff well-being, basing salary on performance factors not connected to productivity, encouraging work-life balance and peer support, and providing mental health resources.

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