Boots set their pay scales on what they call ‘market-based pay’. That means they participate in anonymous pay rate surveys along with similar employers and the survey company advises the average pay for the jobs they have compared, without revealing which company pays any particular rate (this approach is fairly common among some larger employers).
Boots then set their pay scales from 80% to 120% of the median average of market rates. So, by definition, those paid 80% =<100% are being paid below-average salaries compared to the market. This isn’t always clear to pharmacists at Boots and so the PDA suggested that the company create a tool on their internal systems to make this more transparent to their employees.
However, the company declined to do so, hence the PDA instead created a ‘Ready Reckoner’ tool on the PDA website to assist union members. Transparency is an underpinning principle of the PDA’s objectives for any pay system that applies to union members and the tool is designed to help employed pharmacists understand their relative pay position at their employer.
Click here to access the Boots Pay Position Statement.
Some pharmacists with longer service may be particularly interested to learn about where their pay sits compared to the market. The PDA encourages members who, after understanding this position, consider themselves too low in the range, to please contact their local PDA Rep in Boots who will be able to help and advise them on how to request an in-year pay increase. It is important to note that while the PDA acts in the interest of all pharmacists, individual support can only be available to those who are members of the union.
The PDA secured union recognition at Boots in 2019 after pharmacists there voted for it and has negotiated annual pay reviews since that time. Pharmacists working at other pharmacy employers are encouraged to join the PDA, encourage colleagues to join, and to contact the PDA Member Support Centre if they want to find out more about becoming a PDA Rep at their workplace. With a stronger presence at other employers, the PDA can also work for the right to negotiate pay there.
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