Today we at Change to Win announced the launch of a new campaign targeting the inadequacies of the country’s largest retail pharmacy chain. Cure CVS is a coalition of community groups, researchers, activists and union members who hope to see CVS change its company policies that hurt consumers and communities across the country. The aim of the campaign is to ensure that CVS provides equal access across all communities and income levels to its stores and services, offers fair and accurate prices, provides quality products and services, protects customers’ privacy and puts quality pharmacy care first.
At the launch, the campaign also released the group has also just published the results of a 14 month study of the pharmacy retail chain in its new report: “Cure CVS: From low quality to high prices, CVS is failing our communities.” Researchers visited CVS stores across the country, and the report sheds light on company-wide policies that negatively impact low income, non-white shoppers and communities.
You can download the report, learn more about the campaign and join their e-activist program by visiting the campaign’s new Web site, CureCVSNow.org.
Comments (13)
Comments posted to CtW Connect are the sole property of the individual posting them, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Change to Win, its affiliated unions, or its leadership.
CVS to Pay More than $250,000 to Settle FLSA Allegations
CVS Pharmacy, Inc. has agreed to pay $226,598 in penalties and $38,151 in back wages after the Department of Labor accused the company of violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The department says after previous investigations found violations at some of the company's retail pharmacies, the department took a more comprehensive look at CVS locations throughout the Northeast this year. A total of 63 CVS stores, located in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, were checked for compliance with the FLSA.
The department says its investigation revealed that 78 minors were exposed to the hazards of loading/unloading/operation of cardboard compactors/balers at various CVS locations; seven minors employed in violation of the law's time standards; and 51 employees were due a total of $38,151 in back wages, mostly because of the improper editing of their timecards by store managers.
Of the 63 sites investigated, 43 stores had FLSA wage and/or youth employment violations, the department says. For the youth employment violations, the Wage and Hour Division has assessed CVS a total of $215,378 and, for the wage violations, a total of $11,220 in fines.
This article shows the extent in which CVS/CareMark Corporation is prepared to go in
order to cover up the truth by masking problems
and cheating the hard working Americans.
I guess JH has something against hard working
AMERICANS having Rights.
JH said
"Good to see Labor Groups wanting to do for pharmacies what they've done for the Big 3 Automakers. Keep it up...I'm sure you can bankrupt another industry."
You must be a company executive !!!
CVS/CareMark Coperation with poor
business and ethical practices that are Simple continue to make profit from CUSTOMERS and EMPLOYEES.
WE STRIVE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR PROFITS
ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE.
that is the CVS Mission.
Jorge Martinez
Posted by Lawerence on January 8, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Posted on January 8, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Just a quick glance into the life of a CVS Manager. Works at least 65 hours per week. In central NC a DM Jay Barefoot held a meeting and made all managers sign they were not working over 45 hours a week.Many managers are working their vacations trying to get caught up with higher ups demands.... threatened constantly with their jobs.... Lack of hours is serious... anybody can do the math on hours of operation versus given hours for regular employees and figure out a 45 hour work week is impossible. male and female managers are expected to unload trucks. Lunches are never taken by managers.. there would at time be no coverage if they took one... some work all day with out even a bathroom break. Corporate greed and total disregard for employee guidelines has lead to this. They have told employees if they talk to the union they will be dismissed immediantly. What NC needs is a few managers with balls to get some really good lawyers and take CVS to it's knees.If anywhere ever needed the union it's here. In this economy they have managed to terrify people to speak.... They are abusive in many ways and need to be stopped. Please send help... especially to central NC. I will write more as it happens maybe somebody will read my post that can help change this ridiculous corporate greed.
Posted by Employees Wife on April 9, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Posted on April 9, 2009 at 9:05 PM
I have worked at CVS for a little over a year now and I must say all this is BS. Do any of you people have any idea what it takes to run a store like this? I think that what is being said about CVS is horrible. This is one of the best companies I have ever worked for. They take care of their employees. People saying they have 'misleading advertising' are just stupid and dont know whow to read. I have found more often then not people dont LOOK at what a sticker says and I have to walk them back over and show them. Example: A price tag will say '$5.99' and have $2.00 off underneath it and people will think its two dollars because they are not reading. so let me ask this...is the store to suffer for customers who dont want to take responsibility for being ignorant? and the comments about CVS being a racist store? total BS. you think because condoms are locked up that it has something to do with people of 'color'? my store is in a neighborhood of color and ours are not locked up. we do however have razorblades and some $150+ toothbrushes locked up but not because we are in a 'colored' community, its because THEY GET STOLEN A LOT. Do you think if something is a high theft item we are just going to leave it out to be stolen? would you? i mean honestly...any point made to this whole campign can be countered with a little common sense. Wise up people, this is candyland where everything is sunshine and rainbows. People steal so things get locked up. PERIOD.
Posted by Kristin on April 23, 2009 at 3:49 AM
Posted on April 23, 2009 at 3:49 AM
I work for a cvs around greenwich CT. Been with cvs for 14 years now..all ic an say is, i agree with it being a miserable corporate pharmacy. My store, hires illegal immigrants, the manager is nice to them..i but my hump all over, barely get enough time to eat, adn get treated like a shoe being scraped on the curb. IM a shift supervisor. Ive gone to human resources, a few times, and instore manager talked me out of it..so now, i can be pushed out the door, for going to human resources..which means he isnt doing his job.
Ie had a muslim pharmacist try to expose himself to me in backroom, and i have been foced into a corner manyt imes, yelled at and talked down too, and human resources, and the DM of course, take the managers side. Its more a barabric place to work..providing yuor not caucasian of course. All the store has taught me, is how to be racist.. per manager. I have gone to my local board of labor, and thiers nothing they can do, unless it was sexual harrassemnt..but outside of that, at least in the state of CT, its not illegal to harras an employee.
CVS standards have gone don the drain over the past decade. Our newer DM, is bringing in his favorite managers, from walgreens..the sick thing is, i had heard, he was let go form walgreens for sexual harraasment! makes ya wonder...a pharmacy that caters and greets its customers..but does the direct opposite to the employees. Ive even seen alcohol stored in the brakeroom!
Posted by Jason on April 30, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Posted on April 30, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Wow, Jason your whole paragraph sounds like a lie. Where you "work around", your whole racist taughnt on your Muslim "very important discreption" Who "tried to expose himself to you." I don't know what you can say about a person who has worked for cvs for 14 years and is not a store manager. And if all these things are going on and you didn't sue or fight or quit sounds like you don't have a lot going on upstairs in the brain department. CVS just like all retailers follow a code of chain of command and indoor policies and some even provide confidential ethics lines to assist people in everyone of your situations. Everyone also sign Sexual Harrassment papers this so you can easily be transfered or terminated when accusations arise so that honest people don't feel like victims at their jobs. If CT is the real reason why your life sucks right now then...oh do I have to tell you everything.
As far as employees wife is concerned her husbands job is always threatened because of activists like this who make corporatations push down harder on those they hired to run their buisness. Obviously just like owning any buisness it is demanding and stressful. Especially if you want it to be successful and profitable so you can earn a nice bonus. I love how you said some managers with "balls" especially when you are writing this for your husband. I bet your a democratic housewife who sits around all day while your husband breaks his back for an honest living for you and your family. While you want a hand out for all that you do. Because Americans deserve everything for nothing.
This website is PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe you should harass companies who use julienne codes for expirations , or why some companies have born on dates, and why have best if used by, or sell by, and if it says expired was it truly expired was it tested and proven it will do harm. Probably not. Did the manufacturers of these products say will cause ham if digested or ingested beyond expiration date probably not.
Posted by R on May 22, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Posted on May 22, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Well R, seeing it sounds like yuor not a cvs employee, you have little helpfull info for anyone here..Why would i lie? I have no reason too.. where i am, this is how it works, and i know cause ive gone through it a few times...I talk to the human resources manager, the DM, incaase yuor not intelligent to know what DM is, its District manager...he finds out, then uses it against you, too push yuo out the door, they want NO complaints..they want obiedient low payed workers. Ive been cornered and threatened, talked dwon too, and have legal resiodncy, unlike most thier. For the record, Jason is a mans name, not a womans name..in case yuo havnt been paying muych attention, as it shows...
Where i am, the manager gets what he wants, or lets yuo go..whcih is totaly unfair and illegal. But i am DEF gunna shoot my state labor department and useless ethics line another shuot out for help, rather than work in that nazi death camp..its sad and amazing, how cvs says helping customers one at a time..but abuses its employees...
read the results atop of page, of all the backwages..i am all too famliar with it. Really R, if this website is pathetic, maybe you shouldnt be here at all..yuor not helping you know.
Posted by jason on May 30, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Posted on May 30, 2009 at 9:35 AM
CVS does follow a chain of command..butits instore, and to protect other managers who dont wanna loose thier jobs, knowing theyve done illegal crap. Yes, a msulim guy near exposing himself, and you saying its a lie, yuo sound like someone who would lie and cover up a rape or murder. Just my 2 cents, but really, rather thann investigate a crime, yuode jsut let it happen or overlook it..tsk tsk tsk
Posted by jason on May 30, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Posted on May 30, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Working for CVS sucks. I'm in the beauty dept. and we just had a meeting where the Regional manager told us we better sell more beauty products or the co. won't need us. Sounds like a threat to me. I would sell more but they have me doing everthing else but sell. I barely have time to go the the restroom. Speaking of the bathroom, it's gross cause CVS is so cheap they won't pay for a janitor. I wonder if Tom Ryan, CEO cleans his own toilet at the end of the day, especially after the public has used it. This company is all about corporate greed. CVS stands for consumer valueless slaves!!
Posted by Becky on August 14, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Posted on August 14, 2009 at 10:54 PM
To Employees Wife: I am 100% with you, and your husband, I am one of those managers with balls tired of this corporate greed. Currently the case against CVS/Caremark for unpaid overtime in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act was brought by a CVS/Caremark Assistant Manager. The case is moving forward, and is being handled by The Hayber Law Firm and by Siegel, Brill, Greupner, Duffy & Foster, P.A. You are more than welcome to have your husband contact them as I did at info@hayberlawfirm.com, and heidifurlong@sbgdf.com.
Posted by Bizmail on August 31, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Posted on August 31, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Hi. I have a parent that works for CVS for 14 years now. They have been racially discrimnated on the job for many years. My parent has a thick accent, but has been in th is country for about 30 years. I hate that I come from A RACIST TOWN. Its harder for my hard working, honest parents to find jobs, becacuse they take one look at your name and reject you. Some might find this unbeleviable but I have been seeing this for 27 years. For those who are foreign and have experienced this its frusterating. It is so bad. I will call the same companies that my parents called in the same day, they tell them they have no positions for hire, and when I call they say do. I was born here so I have no accent. My poor parents have had a difficult time. Oh well right onto CVS my parent has went to the Store Manager twice who completley ignored her. They are being harrassed and abused by two S.S. The store manager did not even look into it. They have worked there for at least 14 years since it was Excerds and have been told many times that they are a good employee never got in trouble for anything. There was one bad manager who was racist and cut down their hours from full time to not even 12 for no reason. Than there are these effin teenage S.S> that come in and harrass them. They cant do anything about it because they need their jobs. This new Store Manager had said oh I know about you, about the racism that occured few years back and had to be resolved. That store manager made it seem like my parent did something bad. THEY RE ALL RACIST.WHAT THE H*&*^ do you do when you live somewhere racist and no one listens to you or gives you a chance. My parent has come in with the flu, broken limbs, etc. You can count on them always, infact they always call them. Its funny you get good treatment when you do them a favor, but when it comes to helping you out they dont. I have contacted CVS millions of times. My parent wants to talk to them first in an anonymous way. They are afraid of losing their job. Also how would you like it if you came into work and no one talked to you, no one even said hello. You worked their for 12 plus years and these teeenage S.S start treating you like shit, because they have so much power over you. The store manager is the same way. The shift supervisors lie about you making you do work that you were not assigned to do, giving you extra work so you dont finsih on time, so when the store manager comes in you get into trouble. How about them not telling you to do a certain work and than writing a note to the store manager saying you refused to this. How bout that they take up to a 2 hr lunch, and multiple breaks. They only start their work as the store manager is coming in. They harrass and yell at you. They treat you different from other employees, making exceptions for them. They get the new employees to start even supervising you. They give the new employees the better shift. You get held up at gunpoint and stil there is no security and are left alone in the front while the S.S> are doing god knows what in the back!!!!!!AND THE WORST IS THE DM nor the STORE MANAGER CARE TO DO ANYTHING FOR U!!!!!!!!!!! How bout the DM denying that can advance in your position to get mroe money cause you only been there for 12 years because they feel like your english is going to be a problem in developing photos instead of just cashiering. THESE ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE CVS HIRES!!! I GOT TO CONGRATS CVS on being such a good company hiring these wonderful people that manage this way!!Kudos to you guys. LOOK AT THE SECURITY CAMERAS SEND IN SOMEONE UNDERCOVER THAN YOU WILL SEE THE REAL SHIT THAT GOES DOWN IN THE STORE!!!!!!!I dont know what to do i feel so helpless, but u know what because i do not ahve an accent it is easy for me to get a job anywhere. BEcause my parents have an accent they will have the hardest time getting a job. I could understand if they were bad employees, did not show up, etc. BUT THEY ARE NOT they are the best employees any employee could have. Inmstead they hire these high school drop outs who show up to work when they want to or when they dont want to. They get the better shifts and higher positions and raises. Its so hurtful, but more hurtful to my parents. They think cause they are foreigners they are stupid. THey are so wrong, they have PHDs and master degrees from their countries which do not convert to here. Instead they came to his country for a batter life but end up working menial jobs to pay for a better life for their kids. THey work so hard so so so so hard, but these racist people dont appreciate that. Instead they know they will always show up to work, they do not have to worry about them quitting or anything so they take advantage of them. I hope things change, I hope CVS sees this so they can see what goes on in this company. Oh by the way this is a 24 hour store where my parent got held up at gunpoint, of course there is no type of security that was brought into effect after they work alone in the front at night while the SS are doing whatever having a party in the back. So tell me CVS what the hell are you going to do about this. I am going to be a pharmacist and I promise PROMISE PROMISE you that I will never work for this company ever in my life. I would rather live on the street, eat dirt off the floor before I EVER EVER WORK HERE.
Posted by Leila on September 22, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Posted on September 22, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Sorry about the long post. I hope it does not offend anyone. It is not directed toward CVS as a company it is just an individiual store. I hope CVS keeps that in mind. THey did help the situation back a logn time ago. The only thing is that I wish that they would do more of an update or keep track of what is going on in these stores. I just wanted to say their is hidden racism. So CVS this is not towards your company as a whole, but just the individual store. I hoep things change.
Posted by Leila on September 23, 2009 at 12:04 AM
Posted on September 23, 2009 at 12:04 AM
I used to work for CVS in the pharmacy. The original pharmacist manager got her job taken away to a regular pharmacist and was given to another pharmacist who was good friends with the PDM. The old one was a great pharmacist. The new one he used to brag about himself, how he takes care of the pharmacy, he keeps it in good shape. Well....ummmm most of the time he was sitting im sorry majority of the time he was sitting on a stool talking on the phone and checking prescriptions. I dont know about you, but I sure as heck would not want a pharmacist doing those things while checking my prescriptions. He used to always yell at the customers. When I was pulling outdates of drugs, he was bragging about himself of when he came into the pharmacy he cleaned everything up and it had been months. Well there was outdated drugs from lets say a pretty long time. I guess he didnt do that much of a thorough job. AND HERE IS A BIGGIE, he yelled at me because you know those surveys sometimes you get on the recipet where you have to tell the customer to call a 1800 number to rate the store. Well he yelled at me, because he wanted me to say that if they called and entered all 10s that they would have a greater advantage of winning the sweepstakes they were offering. A couple of times he got in front of me pushed me aside to tell them that i was supposed to tell them to enter all 10s or whatever the rating system was. The DMS kept him, because he told a bunch of BS, made the other pharmacist look bad, which she was doing all the work of a pharmacy manager even after he became one. I am sure CVS knows what was going on , at least the DM. As always you can see what kind of "shady stuff goes on. Oh and yeah the person who commented on the bathroom that is so true. I know another employee a cashier up front where they dont let her use the bathroom or they make her wait for long hours. She told the manager, but the manager just blew it off and did nothing about it, and told her she was wrong.Anyways I now work for Wal-Mart, the best best best company ever to work for!!!!Clean bathrooms,multiple bathrooms, with janitors. There are so many managers there of course because it is wal mart. The thing I liek about them is that they care about their employees and take care of them. If there is any issue Wal Mart resolves them. They give hour lunches and two manadatory 15 minute breaks. They really really CARE about their employees. I know as soon as walgreens or wal mart had an opening I hurried over there!!! I didnt care if i did not have insurance for 3 months, i just needed a good work environment with good managers, and employees who all respect each other.
Posted by Sarah on September 25, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Posted on September 25, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Yesterday I tendered my resignation to the position of Store Manager of CVS/Caremark. Following is the main body of my letter to CVS Area Manager, Regional Manager, Reginal HR Business partner and District Manager:
".......The purpose of this letter is to announce my resignation from CVS/Caremark Corporation effective immediately.
I cannot continue being part of a Corporation that overworks its management staff, and categorize them as “Exempt” employees to avoid paying overtime.
While Store Managers and Assistant Store Managers have been given the classification of “Exempt” our real and primary function is to perform non-exempt functions over 80% of the time, including such tasks as unloading deliveries, working the stockrooms, stocking shelves cleaning bathrooms and ringing the cash register. In my opinion CVS is profiting from this business model by not paying for the hours worked by Store Managers and Assistant Store Managers beyond what is established by law per week.
By cutting down labor hours from your “Non-exempt” employees you transfer their duties and responsibilities to your “Exempt” staff. I consider this a manipulation of a Federal law for the company’s own benefit. Manipulative too, is the level, and intensity of micro-management performed by District Managers, Regional Managers, and the Corporate office to ensure execution of CVS’s programs and initiatives making it even more unbearable for us to perform as managers and forcing us, in a surreptitious manner, to perform those “Non-Exempt” functions.
Over the time spent working for CVS I have come to realize that CVS’s violations have been willful, and intentional in that it has known all along what the law requires, and that the primary duty of its Exempt Store Managers and Assistant Store Managers have been to perform non-exempt work........"
Posted by bizmail on November 11, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Posted on November 11, 2009 at 2:02 PM