Shutterstock.com
Pharmacists working for Boots will receive a 5% pay rise plus a one-off bonus payment, following an agreement between the company and Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) Union.
A joint statement, published by Boots and the PDA on 9 October 2023, said pharmacists will get the 5% pay rise from 1 November 2023 to recognise the “unique market circumstances” the community pharmacy sector is operating in.
An additional one-off, non-consolidated payment of £750 pro rata will also be made to all eligible pharmacists and pharmacist store managers in their August 2024 pay to take account of extra work in setting up and running services, such as hypertension case finding and the common clinical conditions service in England, clinical community pharmacy service in Wales or Pharmacy First in Scotland and Northern Ireland, the statement added.
To qualify for the one-off payment, pharmacists will need to have been employed on 1 November 2023 and remain employed until the August 2024 payroll run.
“The non-consolidated element to this year’s pay claim is to recognise the contribution that our pharmacists need to make to support their commitment to the active delivery of new pharmacy services,” the joint statement said.
Overall, the agreement equates to a total package of pay and benefits of 6.5%, the statement added.
The package also includes an extension of the Boots short-notice payments scheme to Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, where notice of working on a non-planned day is given on the same day.
Under the scheme, pharmacists who cover short-notice absences and work a non-planned day with less than 48 hours’ notice receive a bonus payment of £100 for an eight-hour shift.
“Pharmacists continue to perform a vital role in the provision of accessible healthcare in the community. It’s a role we value immensely, and we’re committed to working together to champion a fulfilling future for all our healthcare professionals,” the statement added.
The agreement follows a pay increase of 4.5% in November 2022, which also came with a continuation of short-notice payments.
