TESCO has not confirmed which pharmacies will be closing. This may cause some pharmacists to feel anxiety over the future of their role and possible redundancies. The PDA will support members impacted by the decision so that they are aware of, and can exercise, their rights at work.
Impact on other pharmacies
The company has assured patients that an alternative TESCO pharmacy will be available within a 5-mile radius of the pharmacy that is closing. However, patient volume may migrate to other pharmacies depending on local circumstances. This may also mean more of a strain on these alternative pharmacies. This could even extend to other pharmacies outside of TESCO’s as patients try to find one that is more suitable and closer to them.
Many pharmacists tell the PDA that they are already concerned about resource levels, therefore if this is a significant volume then surrounding pharmacies will need additional resources, staffing and physical space on the premises to safely cope with the increase in business. The PDA recommends pharmacy operators plan ahead from now to ensure they are adequately resourced for any future increase in business due to Tesco closures.
Support for PDA members
As in the case of any job loss, the PDA will be doing all it can for those members impacted by this decision. The PDA knows from experience that in such circumstances there are multiple consequences for employees.
The PDA will be expecting pharmacists to receive adequate redundancy compensation and fair treatment as they try and seek alternative employment during any notice period.
PDA members who wish to discuss any concerns are encouraged to contact the PDA Member Support Centre.
Risk of redundancy
According to ACAS an employer might try and look at other options before deciding on redundancies such as changing working hours, offering voluntary redundancy or moving employees into suitable alternative vacancies. For affected pharmacists, this may mean that if there is a vacancy for a pharmacist role at another of that employer’s locations within a reasonable distance of that person’s home, then redundancy may not be necessary.
Any proposed alternative needs to be suitable for the individual and their circumstances. However, if there are no suitable alternatives available with the employer then a pharmacist’s role may become redundant.
The PDA’s factsheet on redundancy advises that those who are redundant have the right to:
- Ask for information from their employer such as the reason for redundancy, the number of proposed redundancies, the proposed selection procedure, the method and timescale of dismissals, and details of any agency workers being used.
- Request reasonable time off to look for a new job or arrange training.
- Ensure that their employer does not discriminate or act unlawfully in how they make their selection of who is made redundant.
Those who are concerned about possible redundancies can access the PDA’s free redundancy factsheet.
Learn more
- ACAS: Your rights during redundancy
- PDA redundancy guide launched following events to support members
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