Pharmacists denied lunch?
January 22, 2013
SIXTY-two percent of Australian
community pharmacists are
routinely forced to work through
their lunch breaks according to
pharmacist union APESMA.
The statistic comes from a new
APESMA survey of more than 1,300
pharmacists across the nation,
which also found that in comparison
with community pharmacists, only
37.9 per cent of hospital
pharmacists work through lunch.
Speaking out about the results,
CEO of APESMA, Chris Walton said
that forcing pharmacists to work
through lunch without additional
pay was an illegal practice.
“Pharmacists perform complex
work and they need to ensure they
get a chance to get a decent meal,
clear their minds and return to
work ready to help patients,” he said.
“Fatigue can have dangerous
consequences in a pharmacy.
“It’s worth remembering that
without adequate breaks it is harder
for pharmacists to concentrate,
think analytically and recognise risks.
“That’s why it is unlawful for
pharmacy owners to ask pharmacists
to work through their lunch break –
because it can cause dangerous
outcomes for patients,” he added.
According to the survey results,
not only do over half of
pharmacists work through lunch,
but they routinely don’t get paid
for the extra work, despite the
award stipulating they must be
paid an on-premise meal allowance
1.5 times their usual rate.
Interestingly, the survey found
that this practice was highest in
Victoria where 61.6% of
pharmacists who worked through
their lunch break received no
payment for the additional work.
In light of the results, APESMA is
now calling on the Fair Work
Ombudsman, in his audit of
pharmacies, to ensure pharmacists
get their lunch breaks.
MEANWHILE, the Pharmacy Guild
of Australia has responded to
APESMA’s survey saying it is confident
that “the overwhelming majority of
community pharmacies act in good
faith to comply fully with the
Pharmacy Industry Award 2010”.
“The Guild works closely with the
Fair Work Ombudsman’s office to
ensure that community pharmacy
employers are aware of their
obligations,” the Guild said.
“We welcome the approach
expressed by the FWO namely that
pharmacy employers will be
reminded of their obligations ahead
of a longforeshadowed audit later
this year,” the Guild added.
The Guild went on to say that it has
conducted a campaign among its
members to urge them to check
their levels of compliance with the
award ahead of the national audit.
“Last year the Guild published,
and distributed widely, an industrial
checklist for the benefit of all
employees working in community
pharmacy to use in discussion with
pharmacy owners and confirm the
correct pay,” the Guild said.
“The Guild strongly believes that
all employees should understand
their employment conditions and
entitlements, and that information
on these matters should be readily
available,” the Guild added.
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