My Boss's Boss, I am sorry to leave as I did. I have really struggled with this decision and wished that I had gotten to know you better during this time at the very least. I had very high expectations of this job and still feel that there are wonderful things in place systems-wise that will definitely make the company profitable.

I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't at least share with you what I experienced here at your company. I wanted to speak with you in person about these things, but it never seemed to be the right time.

First of all, when I interviewed, Boss and I had discussed the schedule. I was told 8-8:30 am to 5-5:30 pm. There are always things that pull you toward a job and things that repel, and schedule is my number one pull. I focus on it more than anything since I do so much outside of work in my neighborhood along with other responsibilities. After just a few days on board, there was a change made to Fed Ex to save money. Boss said out-loud that we would be moving to a split shift, one pharmacist coming in early and the other later (staying until 6:30pm to 7:00pm depending on when Fed Ex would arrive). Since coming on board one pharmacist had been dropped from two days to one day and another pharmacist 40 hours to 32 hours a week, I couldn't help but notice that I would be the one to carry the later shifts for the most part. I went to my boss to ask him about the schedule. I told him that I thought when I interviewed the hours were 8-8:30 am to 5-5:30 pm, and he immediately told me that he knew that sometimes "perception was reality," and that he was sorry to say that I misunderstood him. I didn't misunderstand the schedule as it is at the top of the list as far as job priorities go. My boss then said, "Don't forget, Blonde Pharmacist, that I sweetened the pot for you." I felt very insulted at that point. I had counter-offered on the salary negotiation even after in the interview he said salary wasn't negotiable. He had met the counter-offer, yet now it was being pulled back up in my face, so to speak. I felt like that one comment shed immediately light into the lack of professionalism his words carried.

There is not a lot of work right now, yet any work that there may be to do is dealt with immediately with a super sense of urgency. I don't have the time to even make the decision to do anything without a reminder of "Have you done "X" yet?" "You can do "X" now." I notice this with every employee. It feels as though there is a lack of trust with his employees on being able to be self starters and getting the job done. It is one reason that a tech wanted to quit. Both he and and his favorite tech treat her as though she is lacking any thought process of her own.

My boss speaks loudly and does all corrective action in front of everyone. I find this very uncomfortable. Another pharmacist had had trouble with a physician signing a CII and had had a difficult conversation with the physician regarding the legal steps. She was professional and direct yet very nice with the physician. That pharmacist shared with the boss the issue, and the boss immediately chastised her in front of his favorite tech and me, "E, you have not handled this correctly. You have poured gasoline on the fire." The more appropriate response would to be to deal with her in private if he thought she was inappropriate.

There is a clique feeling here with the Wal-Mart crew. Others aren't as welcome. I have felt very unwelcome with them since Day 1.

The next day, he accused that same pharmacist (E) in front of the staff of leaving the building for lunch with me (I had gone alone to pick up lunch and to come back and meet E in the breakroom to eat). E told him immediately that she had been in the break room and had not left the pharmacy unmanned per law. The ironic thing was that the next day I came into work at 8:10am (wreck put me 10 minutes behind), and the boss had been here to let the boss's favorite tech in and had gone to the LTC conference. His favorite tech was in the pharmacy alone. His favorite tech is not a pharmacist and though is almost treated as one cannot be left in the pharmacy alone. This just seemed ironic to me that very day before the boss had accused E of the same thing.

I resigned which was difficult. I have never resigned a job without having another one lined up, but I got to the point where I knew I would not be able to work for the boss any longer and endure the kind of atmosphere in place here. His management style is not very conducive to professional growth, and I had to beg my husband to let me resign. After a week of resigning, I asked the boss if I could leave a couple of hours early one day for an interview. It's the only one I had lined up at all. The boss immediately said, "Why don't we just let today be your last day?"

I was completely at a loss for words. I told him that we had agreed on two weeks and if he wanted me to leave, I would. He told me that he thought he was doing me a favor. If I had wanted that type of response, I would have said that I wanted to leave that day and it be my last. He has a way of making people feel subhuman. I was very emotional and told him that I needed to work out the two weeks and that I was only asking to leave a little bit early one day. He said that he thought he was helping me out to do more interviewing and drug tests. I told him that I didn't have all that lined up at all. Then he went into a lecture about pharmacy, his daughter, and that he thought that I needed off because I had been moping around and was unhappy.

I haven't been moping or unhappy. I have been trying to be as professional as possible while working for a very unprofessional manager, and it's been the most difficult short tenure that I have ever had. I hope that I never have to go through another situation like this again. It's very difficult for me to let you know all of this for fear of sounding like a child, but it's the truth, and I do wish you and your business the best. I believe the boss is good at growing businesses, perhaps, but he will have a difficult time growing his staff. I only left due to him and the environment he has created.

Sincerely, Blonde Pharmacist

His response:

Blonde Pharmacist,

Thank you for taking the time to provide me your reasoning for leaving my pharmacy. I was surprised and disappointed with your departure. More than anything, I feel badly that your experience here was so negative to the point that you left without even having a job. Sometimes the chemistry between people is just far off the mark, and when that is the case misunderstandings abound. You might be interested to know, for your own benefit, that several folks here asked if "Blonde Pharmacist ever smiles"...and this was the first week or so. Obviously your unhappiness was noticed by others and so it was best that you moved on to search for a position that will meet your needs and fulfill your expectations.

I believe you are an exceptionally talented professional and that you will find that right opportunity and they will be fortunate to have you on their team.

Sincerely,

Boss's Boss

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WHAT??!!!! So of course in Blonde Pharmacist's true form - one last communication:

Boss's Boss,

I'm really surprised by your email, especially the part about me never smiling. That really made me smile! I actually did, quite a lot. I cannot imagine who the several would even be considering the only one I didn't smile at much was my boss and there are only a handful of employees there. I didn't smile much to boss the first week because of the schedule change that was mentioned and the inappropriate way he talked down to me when I questioned him about the changes that were being made the first few days of my employment. It's hard to digest someone changing what they tell you in an interview. I've never had that happen before.

I have heard nothing but good things about you, yet now I wonder what the purpose of you even replying to me regarding what I emailed you except to let me know that I was a negative force in your business. I wouldn't have been perceived that way had I been dealt with fairly in the beginning. There were NO misunderstandings of what the boss said to me in the interview and what then transpired. There's no misunderstanding schedule. There's no misunderstanding someone then saying, "Don't forget I sweetened the pot for you." I think that one statement in itself spoke to me as to what kind of person he is. I cannot work for that kind of individual.

Perhaps if you would have talked to me or gotten to know me in the four weeks I was there, you would find out the truth about me instead of listening to the boss's take on what happened and trying to benefit me with information that I didn't smile? There are a lot of pharmacists in the pharmacy industry in this city that warned me about working for him, and I did not listen. I wanted to find out for myself because it seemed like a great opportunity, and he came across so honest.

I am just speechless at your email. Really an "I'm sorry it didn't work out" would have been much more professional.

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Can I be any more hormonal right now? GEEZE! The main thing is that I'm so livid at his response. It lacked professionalism.

I didn't smile? Are you freaking kidding me?

I would love to plaster their names all over this post, but won't. I've definitely burned a bridge!

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