I had worked for Boots since 2010, having various roles, the latest one being a manager of a Community Anticoagulation Service. In the spring of 2023, the team and I had been informed that the Community Anticoagulation Service was going to change providers and according to the employment law, colleagues who worked predominantly for the service were being transitioned to the new provider, Bromley GP Alliance (BGPA).
The team and I had received a great level of support from PDA Boots Rep, Gordon Finlayson, who represented us during the consultation stages of the transfer. The terms and conditions of the transfer were carefully outlined, and a clear communication pathway was maintained between us. It felt reassuring, despite the challenging change ahead, to have someone so experienced and knowledgeable in the field acting in the best interest of the pharmacists involved. We all had lots of questions and individual concerns which were all addressed by Gordon.
Under TUPE guidelines, following organisation transfer, employment terms and conditions remain the same (salary, statutory and company holiday entitlement etc), however, company benefits are not transferable.
Gordon had managed to re-negotiate better conditions of the transfer which included continuation of a Boots Sick Pay, reimbursement of the GPhC fees for 3 years, and provision of a company car for service domiciliary visits. We certainly couldn’t have achieved it without the support received by Gordon.
A few weeks after the transfer, I was approached by the PDA to become a rep for my organisation. Reflecting at my personal experience I realised by being a rep I could have a direct positive influence on other pharmacist colleagues.
I attended a PDA Reps training course in October 2023 and learnt about the objectives of the organisation, importance of problem solving, understanding the rights of a rep and learnt how colleagues can be supported in their workplace. The training was very useful, interactive, and interesting.
By PDA NHS Rep and GP pharmacist, Dagmara Cieniawska
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