Approximately 6,500 pharmacists working at health and beauty retailer and pharmacy Boots will receive a pay rise of up to 2% in November 2019. The pay increase comes after a series of negotiations between Boots Management Services and the Pharmacists' Defence Association Union (PDAU).
Eligible individuals include: pre-registration pharmacists; pharmacists, including relief pharmacists, care services pharmacists, advanced practitioners, and specialist practitioners; and pharmacist store managers within the bargaining unit.
Employees will be notified of the pay increase by 14 November 2019 and can expect to see this reflected in their November pay.
Dependant on job role, the pay increase will vary from 1% for some pharmacist store managers up to 2% for more experienced pharmacists. The only employees exempt from the pay rises are those who have joined the organisation post August 2019, or who have recently had a ‘not performing’ review.
In addition, contractual working hours for pre-registration pharmacists will now be 37.5 hours per week, a 2.5 hour reduction from 40 hours per week. This changes comes with no loss of pay.
Pharmacists will also be paid for attending employer-assigned training taking place outside of working hours, or will receive time off in lieu.
A Boots UK spokesperson said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the PDAU for our 6,500 pharmacists. Despite the tough external factors that Boots and others in retail and pharmacy are facing, the agreement offers a market competitive pay increase and underpins Boots' commitment to offer long-term and rewarding careers to its pharmacists as they care for patients and communities across the UK.”
