PDA launches guide booklet on 'problem employment clauses' for employee and locum pharmacists

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has produced a new guide booklet – 'Dealing with, and overcoming problems in contracts of employment' - designed to help employee and locum pharmacists whose employers have asked them to sign contracts governing their employed or self-employed relationship.

The guide is suitable for community and hospital employees, Pre-reg, locum and primary care pharmacists.

During the course of 2004, the PDA supported members in more than 700 incidents, of which more than 400 were disputes with pharmacy employers.

Based on these experiences, the PDA guide identifies more than twenty problematic clauses used in employment contracts, which have led to disputes in the past.

"The vast majority of employers are keen to look after their employees and operate perfectly fair employment practices. However, some employers do not and occasionally, even the good employers get it wrong. Consequently, the PDA has been very active in helping to resolve disputes between employees and locums and employers," said PDA Director Mark Koziol.

Employment disputes are not only upsetting for all concerned, they are also very costly. During the last year, the PDA secured more than £150,000 of compensation for PDA members, from employers who had treated them unfairly or harshly.

"In highlighting the specific problem employment clauses that have caused disputes in the past, it is hoped that pharmacists will be more aware of the issues and that they will avoid signing contracts that contain them in the future. In turn, it is hoped that genuine employers will study the contracts that they issue to their employees to ensure that they do not contain any of the potentially destructive clauses contained in the PDA guide. Should this risk management occur, then we believe that the number of employer⁄employee disputes in pharmacy will be significantly reduced." He added.

Any employee or locum pharmacists or pharmacy proprietors who would like to receive a free copy of the PDA employment contract guide, should contact the PDA (Tel: 0121 694 7000). Alternatively, they can download a copy from the PDA website (www.the-pda.org).

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA)

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) is a not for profit organisation which aims is to act upon and support the needs of individual pharmacists and, when necessary, to defend their reputation. PDA currently has more than 10,000 members.

The primary aims of the PDA are to;

• Support pharmacists in their legal, practice and employment needs.
• Provide insurance cover to safeguard and defend the reputation of the individual pharmacist.
• Proactively seek to influence the professional, practice and employment agenda to support members.
• Lead and support initiatives designed to improve the knowledge and skills of pharmacists in managing risk and safe practices, so improving patient care.
• Work with like-minded organisations to further improve the membership benefits to individual pharmacists.

Editors requiring further information should contact:

Colin Martin

Public Relations Consultant
32 Woodstock Road
London W4 1UF
Tel: 020 8994 1639
Mob: 07931 560 141
Fax: 020 8747 9185
Email: cmpubrel@aol.com