CVS Executive Tells Pharmacists They Are ‘Valued’ Following Walkout in Kansas City

A CVS executive apologized after pharmacists at some of the chain’s Kansas City locations walked out in protest of working conditions and patient safety last week and may do so again on Wednesday, USA Today reported.

The walkout last week led to the closure of as many as 22 locations, organizers told USA Today.

On Tuesday, after staff at the company met with executives at CVS, Prem Shah, the Executive Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer and President of Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness at CVS Health, attempted to address some of the pharmacists' concerns in an internal memo shared by USA Today.

"I want to apologize to our pharmacy teams that we haven't addressed these concerns in the region more quickly," Shah said.

The pharmacists orchestrated the initial work action over concerns about employee and patient risks, USA Today reported. Those who walked out shared concerns about being able to complete prescription-related tasks safely due to staffing levels.

Shah, who acknowledged that he met with teams in Kansas City, noted that the company planned to add additional support at the pharmacies, support from human resources to increase staffing and change workflow. Shah noted that part of the increased business at the pharmacy was because of "unprecedented demand for vaccinations."

Shah added he would come back to Kansas City "every month until we have created a sustainable plan of action for this region."

The pharmacy giant also asked employees to share thoughts with the organization “without fear of retaliation.” 

A representative of CVS told The Messenger that the company's "ability to serve patients in Kansas City was not impacted today and we are not seeing any abnormal activity in other markets."

The representative added that it is "focused on addressing the concerns raised by our pharmacists so we can continue to deliver the high-quality care our patients depend on."

Before the release of the memo, a pharmacist in Kansas city said "right now we do not feel safe in the workplace,” according to USA Today.

“The workload is so heavy and the amount of staff they allot us is so low that I’m unable to go to the bathroom during my 10-hour shift,” the pharmacist added. 

The pharmacists spoke to USA Today anonymously, as the company allegedly does not allow them to speak to the media.

CVS did not immediately respond to The Messenger's request for comment.