Walgreens offering new round of pay hikes, bonuses, well-being initiatives
Walgreens Boots Alliance is building on its efforts over the past 12 months in support of its team members. Those efforts included $640 million in investments for Walgreens team members, including $450 million announced last August as part of the move to $15/hour minimum wage, and an additional $190 million in pharmacist investments this fiscal year.
The company shared that it is expanding on those investments as part of an ongoing implementation to increase its pharmacist base pay ranges. “These are further recognition of our pharmacists’ hard work, dedication and commitment and the critical role they continue to play in caring for our customers and patients,” the company said.
These investments include:
- Increasing pharmacist base pay rate ranges across the United States;
- Extending premium pay for pharmacists electing to work additional shifts; and
- Extending sign-on bonuses for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
[Read more: Retailer of the Year 2021: Walgreens seizes its omnichannel opportunity]
"Some of our previously announced investments this fiscal year also provided bonuses to pharmacy technicians who became certified to administer COVID-19 vaccines; as well as enhancements to the annual merit review process to provide compensation increases or lump sum payments for all Walgreens pharmacists," the company noted.
Beyond the stores, Walgreens shared that it is continuing to deliver on other important initiatives with a focus on caring for its team members, listening to their feedback and improving both the team member and customer experience.
A couple of examples:
- As announced during the Q3 earnings in June, Walgreens has opened four automated micro-fulfillment centers, which have proven instrumental in removing routine tasks and excess inventory from the pharmacies they support. In addition to driving efficiencies, the micro-fulfillment centers are designed to enhance working conditions by giving pharmacists more time to focus on patient care and provide clinical services; and
- The retailer remains on track to open nine centers by the end of the fiscal year, which will serve more than one-third of our footprint. The centers currently fill about 20% of prescriptions for these stores, with a goal to fill 40% to 50% over time.
[Read more: Walgreens offering new round of employee bonuses, rewards]
Walgreens also said that it continues to take steps and make investments as part of the company’s focus on team member health and well-being, both in the workplace and beyond.
In May, Walgreens launched Be Well Connected, an internal initiative developed to provide easy access to a wider range of services and support that foster “whole person” health — across mind, body and spirit.
Building on the company’s existing EAP platform, Life365, Be Well Connected offers resources ranging from five free counseling sessions with a licensed therapist, to a customized mobile app, mental health and wellness solution that connects team members to one of the world’s largest, most supportive and inclusive well-being communities. These and other services are available to team members and their families at no cost, the retailer said.