Locum pharmacists should take screenshots of any agreements they have with pharmacy owners, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association has urged, as it claimed that “unethical behaviour” by businesses is on the rise.

In a statement yesterday (July 31), the PDA shared details of a number of alleged incidents it claimed had recently occurred, including:

• A locum pharmacist being told “on short notice” that the previously agreed rate was no longer on offer. The company then allegedly re-advertised the shift saying that “a booked locum was unwell”. No alternative locums were sourced and the pharmacy remained closed on that day
• A locum arrived for their shift at the agreed time and was “publicly berated” for arriving late; the pharmacy had allegedly amended the schedule “after the fact,” as evidenced by screenshots of the booking made by the pharmacist
• A company changing a booking to include an unpaid 30-minute break that had not been agreed by the locum pharmacist and which was not taken by them during the shift. Half an hour was then deducted from the pharmacist’s fee.

Advising all locums to take screenshots of every booking agreement, the PDA said it was “disappointed that this is necessary” in order to tackle “poor business behaviours”.  

The PDA also shared a screenshot that has circulated on social media that appears to show a “major locum agency” informing prospective locums of the penalties they will incur if they cancel a shift within 28 days (“one strike”) or within three days (“two strikes”). 

The screenshotted message adds: “Three strikes within six weeks triggers a review of your account.”  

It is not clear whether the agency in question applies similar penalties to companies that cancel shifts or, as suggested by the instances alleged by the PDA to have occurred, unilaterally revise the terms that have been agreed with locum workers.

The PDA said: “The imbalance in the treatment of locums and their client, the community pharmacy business, is not only unfair and poor business management, but seen alongside factors such as the refusal to negotiate rates continues to suggest that locums are being treated more as employees rather than truly self-employed.

“That difference in worker status risks increased liability for taxation by the business and greater rights for the employee.”