Working for CVS Pharmacy is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. - Clerk/Cashier CVS Health Employee Review

2.0
10 Feb 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

CVS Pharmacy is an excellent place for those looking to pursue a career in Pharmacy. They give hands on experience for those seeking Pharmacy skills. CVS is also great about keeping products in stock for their customers. The management is strict. CVS also gives insight to those looking for a career in the retail industry. The weekly pay is also great because there is almost no delay in the time waiting for a paycheck. One of the mixed bag of nuts mostly depends on the store you are placed at. I had nothing but issues and problems at my home store, but when transfered to other stores for training or backup, it was truly an excellent working experience! I looked forward to every day working when it was not at my home store. It was honestly a pleasure working there.

Cons

CVS is very weird on the front of job security. The security at the stores is variable. The officer doesn't inspect customers going into or out of the store some of which were obviously committing petty theft, even when reported via code over loudspeaker. However they stop all employees, search their belongings (ladies, that includes your purses!), and watch them over camera to make sure we take absolutely nothing from there store. We were not permitted to leave the store until management approved that we had no items. Management give and take hours as they please. They tell you that if you have a problem with an employee,to call the CVS hotline anonymously. However, if you were to call, your call mysteriously got reported back to management and they would mock you in the store, cut your hours, or even fire you. I personally ended my last month of employment there with 0 store hours for the last two weeks and barely even 9 total hours for the weeks prior. The management also doesn't always abide by company policy. Managers will smoke in the back of the store if they please, even if employees are non-smokers.

Explore other reviews about CVS Health

5.0
21 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good company to work with

Cons

Hard to get promoted internally

5.0
13 Dec 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I learned a lot working there as far as how to run a business as well as how to develop a team. I had one of the most successful teams in the company ranking as the top store year over year in two separate markets, one in the Northeast one in the Southeast. I was a paragon winner with the company as well. My most recent DM was very supportive. I genuinely thank them for the opportunity and the knowledge that I acquired while working with them.

Cons

Work hours were excessive. To be successful hours worked were borderline slavery. While I willingly worked them to be successful, the week you didn't you were immediately behind. Vacations were almost non existent due to constant visitors from corporate stopping in to do reviews. Holiday weeks were paid 4 days regular 1 holiday and you worked all 5. The facade of the stores looking great when these people stop by versus the reality of the business is polarizing. There were always teams of people and excessive expenditures of payroll thrown into stores prior to their visits. While I understood the need to make an appearance, it was always will always be a backwards way off thinking. Company preaches quality of life for their clients while quality of life for their employees is non-existent. As a "manager" in your average store you will be "managing" a total of one person during your shift, with a total of 10 people at location. Location open hours will exceed total payroll hours ie Sun-Sat 7am-10pm = 15hrs per day x 7 days x 2 people = 210 hrs which excludes the need to have a person unload deliveries that come in during non opened hours. Your budgeted hours will be approximately 208 hrs. I will only mention that during the month of December that there are extended hours for the stores but no budgeted hours to accommodate. Stores are held to strict shrink targets with little to no control over external theft. Remember 2 people at location, if four people enter to steal there is nothing you can do to stop them. These are facts not personal prejudices.

1181
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All