Author: malakarp

After conducting an internet search, I found that unions provide great benefits to employees both inside and outside of work. At work, employees may see improved benefits such as increases in pay, better benefits, safer workplaces, and feel that they have a voice. Better benefits may be in the form of employer-provided pensions and health insurance. Improved and safer working conditions are essential to preventing illness and injury. Additionally, union representation allows employees to advocate for improved benefits without fear of retaliation, which gives employees a sense of empowerment. Outside of work, unions may provide greater personal well-being, which encompasses physical and mental health. This is accomplished through health insurance, and paid sick and family leave.

However, all of these benefits are not without a cost, quite literally. One of the cons of labor unions is that they cost money. Union dues are charged to members, and they can be costly to employers as well. Additionally, unions can lead to less autonomy for employees as there are certain union rules that employees have to follow. Conflict could arise due to various sources including lack of autonomy and conflicting views. Lastly, unions go on strike, which leads to various potential cons for both employers and employees. On the employer side of things, strikes halt business and productivity. Depending on the type of business, temporary replacements may be required immediately. For example, when nurses go on strike at a hospital, the institution must quickly find replacements as nurses are essential for patient care.

These ideas are fairly similar to the content reviewed in this week’s lectures; however, I was not aware of the decrease in autonomy for union members.

I have previously been part of a union when I was a teacher, and I plan to join as a pharmacist. I believe that they are important and their pros most definitely outweigh the cons.

Banerjee, R. • B. A. (n.d.). Unions are not only good for workers, they’re good for communities and for democracy: High unionization levels are associated with positive outcomes across multiple indicators of economic, personal, and democratic well-being. Economic Policy Institute. https://www.epi.org/publication/unions-and-well-being/

Justin Klawans, T. W. U. (2024, October 2). The Pros and cons of Labor Unions. The Week. https://theweek.com/business/labor-unions-pros-cons

What unions do: AFL-CIO. AFL. (n.d.). https://aflcio.org/what-unions-do

The various tests and surveys reaffirmed what I already knew about myself. I am in an extremely stressful season of life- finishing up both degrees, moving to a new state, and studying for board exams. Regardless of the season of life, I always feel a little stressed due to my type A nature. I always strive to do more whether that it is in school, work, extracurricular activities or in my personal life. As I get older, I am starting to dial this back a little.

Having experience with high stress situations and stress being a constant in my life that ebbs and flows, I am relieved that the Coping and Stress Management Skills Test showed that I have a problem-focused coping approach. This is an approach I continue to refine as I grow and face new challenges. Personally, when I am under a lot of stress, I get overwhelmed, which fuels my next steps. I make lists and plan how I will overcome all of my tasks or challenges and implement said plan. It is not always easy, but my personal motivation and discipline keep me on track.

Throughout my pharmacy school experience, I have learned that though stress is part of the process, I do not want to let it define me nor impact my relationships with others. I strive to balance all of the things that I would like to do, including time for myself, family and friends, and the hobbies that I enjoy. Some weeks this balance can be harder to achieve than others, and it is not always possible, but prioritizing it most weeks is important to me.

Exercise has proven to be an excellent stress reliver that promotes several health benefits including boosting mental health. I have definitely turned to physical activity during times of stress, but I could improve prioritizing exercise even on busy days because it helps me recharge and become more cognitively focused.

Companies also see the benefit of wellness and implement programs that extend beyond physical health. Such programs include physical and financial wellness resources as well as mindfulness and meditation trainings.

Mallori.bontrager@uprisehealth.com. (2025, January 6). How companies are addressing employee stress in the modern workplace. Uprise Health. https://uprisehealth.com/resources/how-companies-are-addressing-employee-stress-in-the-modern-workplace/

Recently, I was offered a retail pharmacist position for after my upcoming graduation. The company was offering excellent compensation for this position. Not only was the pay good, but I was also offered the opportunity to get my student loans paid off in return for a three-year service commitment. Truthfully, it pained me to turn down this amazing opportunity, especially since pharmacy school is costly and $100,000 worth of student loans is terrifying.

Ultimately, I decided to turn down this offer because I know that I want to pursue a clinical position and this requires residency training. I went through a rigorous residency Match process and ended up at my top choice. Though I will be receiving financial compensation in this position, less than half of what I would in the retail position, I will also be receiving additional training in a clinical setting. The experience that I will gain during this additional year of training will be equivalent to three years in the field. The learning opportunities will be abundant and residency training will be full of invaluable experiences.

So, while I would be earning more than double and getting my student loans paid in full at the retail position, it would mean that I would not be able to pursue additional training to obtain the clinical position that I see myself practicing in. And for me, this instant gratification is not worth sacrificing the career I have spent so much time pursuing, for initial higher pay and student loan repayment. The compensation, in the form of career development, is far more valuable to me than the monetary compensation.

A training that I found especially beneficial was medication counseling. During the first two years of pharmacy school, I received in depth instruction on how to effectively counsel patients about their medications, which included the entire process. Counseling requires various components: highlighting key information about the medication therapy, adjusting communication to the patients’ literacy level, effectively answering any questions that the patient may have. During pharmacy practice lab, I was able to implement the knowledge I had acquired about counseling and the various medications through hands-on practice with lab groups. I also had various closeout exams in which I completed counseling sessions with standardized patients.

Relating to what I have learned about training in Management 553, the training I received for counseling was beneficial because I had weekly opportunities to practice during lab sessions and the training was absolutely relevant to my future practice, which made the content more meaningful. Additionally, my performance was informally assessed by lab instructors and lab mates periodically and prior to the final closeout exams. This ensured that I was properly trained and given enough practice before being formally assessed and prior to starting counseling on rotations in the real world.

Another training that I have completed during pharmacy school is vaccine administration training. This training consisted of various online modules and quizzes, followed by a couple of in-person sessions that highlighted key details from the modules, and a single lab session to practice vaccinations on a partner. The limited hands-on practice reminded me much of UPS’s previous style of training, which emphasized more of a lecture style approach. While it is important to learn about vaccines and the related policies and techniques, administering vaccinations can be nerve-racking and stressful, especially when the vaccinator lacks sufficient practice. Thus, I would recommend additional practice in vaccination administration prior to becoming certified and encountering real-world interactions. Implementing a technology-based approach as done in the UPS case could be an innovative way to better prepare students to vaccinate.

References:

Hira, N. A. (n.d.). The making of a UPS driver. CNNMoney. https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/11/12/101008310/
Training. (n.d.). Lecture.

I recently went through the pharmacy residency Match process, which included an extensive interview journey. I participated in nine interviews over the course of six weeks and these interviews consisted of various formats including prescreening telephone and Zoom interviews, and final in-person and virtual interviews.

Residency interviews utilized mostly situational and clinical questions. The “tell me about a time when” questions were utilized in every interview to assess candidates’ past experiences and abilities to work in a team, prevail during stressful situations, and overcome failures, all of which are essential for residency. The clinical portions examined candidate knowledge, also critical for the position. These clinical portions served as work-sample tests, evaluating applicability of clinical knowledge to patient care. This improves both reliability and utility and is critical for the interview process as mentioned in the articles by Bohnet and Knight.

While I am unsure if applications were reviewed in a blind systematic method, this would be an excellent way to reduce bias and focus on the candidate’s specific qualifications instead of demographic qualities, thereby increasing validity and applicability (Knight, 2018).

Although it is unclear whether programs had a “likability score” as mentioned in Knight’s article, how much I liked the interview and panel influenced how I ranked each program.

The interview that I liked least, was one that felt unstructured. Multiple panels asked the same questions repeatedly without much variation. It felt repetitive and unorganized. This repetition reduced the utility of the interview process and I left thinking that the interview could have been condensed. There was also a time in which candidates could ask current residents any questions. This was a very unstructured period and while I appreciated the freedom, it made for an awkward time where I felt that I needed to continuously ask questions to fill the time.

I would recommend that this program better coordinate its questions and structure of various interview panels. Repetition of essential questions like “why this residency” is understandable, but it is a better use of everyone’s time if different or less questions are asked. The resident portion could benefit from organized structure.

References:

• Bohnet , I. (2018) How to Take the Bias out of Interviews
• Knight, R. (2018) 7 Practical Ways to Reduce Bias in Your Hiring Processes

Job descriptions are an essential tool for companies that provide value when developed and maintained appropriately. However, there are various challenges associated with creating and maintaining job descriptions. For one, this task can be timely as job descriptions should be updated at least annually per the article Job Worth Doing: Update Descriptions. Adding to the challenges, job descriptions require involvement from various staff including employees, managers, and HR, with each having a specific role in ensuring accuracy. Most importantly, job descriptions warrant accuracy as they guide employees’ daily tasks and expectations.

If a job description is not maintained, companies face the risk of employees filing grievances. This can lead to various legal consequences that can result in dissatisfied employees, frustration, and confusion. Aside from legal violations, employees will feel a disconnect between thinking that they are fulfilling their tasks, but instead are not meeting company expectations because they are unaware.

There are various benefits associated with maintaining up to date job descriptions. These benefits include clear task statements, working conditions, and job summaries. This allows employees to know the exact duties that are expected of them. Additionally, updated job descriptions help with workforce planning as stated in the article Job Worth Doing: Update Descriptions.

Drawing on previous experiences, I feel that I have always exceeded my job description; however, I have worked with various colleagues who will only complete the tasks outlined in their job description. Job descriptions should be updated regularly so that employers are satisfied with both types of employees, and to accurately reflect the evolving needs and expectations of the role.

Reference:

Tyler, K. (2023, December 21). Job worth doing: Update descriptions. Welcome to SHRM. https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/hr-magazine/job-worth-update-descriptions

The 2020 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work for list highlights organizations that have excelled in creating an inviting and engaging workplace culture. Naturally, I gravitated towards selecting nearly all healthcare related companies, and each had a trend. Employees valued an inclusive culture in which they fulfilled the company’s mission daily. The employees at Novo Nordisk stated that they would always go the extra mile for their manager. This is a testament to the mutual rapport and respect that has been established between management and employees. Scripps Health employees stated that it was a pleasure to come into work every day, and they felt they could give their all to their patients because of how supported they felt.

To gain a better representation of other companies, I also read about the reviews left by American Express employees. They appreciated the work life balance and respect management had for their families.

Developing strategic goals that are consistent with the company’s mission and organizing efforts with employees are ways that these companies have practiced HR. Another HR practice includes providing employee benefits such as extended maternity and paternity leave, which allowed American Express mothers to put their families first.

Reflecting on the reviews that were left by employees and my own experiences as an employee, I strive to not only be a great manager, but an excellent leader. It is crucial to create an environment where employees feel supported, appreciated, and motivated to go above and beyond. I want to be a manager and leader in which I empower others to fulfill the mission of our company, exceeding expectations daily.

Based on Chapter: The Wisdom of Great Managers, some manager competencies include managing change and diversity, troop rallying, strategic agility, business practices and controls, and having a compelling vision. Managing change and diversity may be the most challenging aspects of a manager’s job. This is because some employees may fear or dislike change, and therefore, be less receptive and open to it. Additionally, diversity requires a manager that is adaptable and able to adjust management styles to support each unique employee’s needs, which is no easy task.

Fortune 100 best companies to work for® 2020. Great Place To Work®. (n.d.). https://www.greatplacetowork.com/best-workplaces/100-best/2020

Harter, J., Buckingham, M., & Coffman, C. (2020). First, break all the rules: What the world’s greatest managers do differently. Gallup Press.

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