Pros
I was a pharmacy manager for 20 years. Ready for a change and burned out on the management position, I found Seattle Pharmacy Relief. The owner and staff have kept me employed with the hours I need and have provided various work environments in retail, out patient pharmacy, independent settings and LTC. I have also gotten to work on vaccine trials which has been unique and insightful. I have gotten to meet many more people and work in different levels of volume than I would have staying in one setting. A great learning experience. It is a nice mix and I can concentrate on being a pharmacist again as opposed to being a manager. I can set vacations and time off for myself. Howard and staff have always worked with me and I work with them to make the best set of opportunities for me and coverage for them. You don't have to accept any shift you don't want as long as you let them know as soon as possible. I have also been offered permanent job offers from a couple of the places I have temped at for SPR. A great company to try out the employment options and for the potential employers see your skills.
Cons
There are no benefits, so you need to be in a position where you can purchase your own and be responsible for your own savings. The company does take care of tax and with holdings. You have to be ready to accept shifts at short notice at least some of the time and many shifts are out of town. The company does reimburse for travel and lodging depending on the distance. However, if you are flexible and work with the schedulers and Howard, you can make the working experience you want. This is not a type of work for everyone, but if you are a pharmacist who is looking for something beyond the retail grind or just need a change of pace, or just want to see what else is out there, then this is a great company to work for.