Five practical ways to turn age diversity into your pharmacy’s competitive advantage.The Power of Generational DiversityPharmacy teams are more diverse than ever before—spanning as many as five generations working together, from seasoned Baby Boomers to digital-native Gen Z. Each brings distinct experiences, communication styles, and work expectations.
When managed intentionally, this mix fuels innovation, mentorship, and stronger patient outcomes. But without understanding and empathy, it can lead to frustration and turnover. Here’s how pharmacy leaders can bridge the gap and create workplaces where every generation thrives. 1. Lead with Respect, Not AssumptionsGenerational stereotypes—like “Boomers resist change” or “Gen Z lacks commitment”—limit collaboration. Instead, focus on shared goals: patient safety, accuracy, and quality care. A 2023 Deloitte study found that 83% of organizations with strong intergenerational collaboration outperform peers in retention and innovation. Start team discussions with values everyone can align around: professionalism, respect, and purpose. 2. Practice Reverse MentorshipMentorship shouldn’t just move top-down—it works best when knowledge flows both ways. Senior pharmacists bring decades of clinical experience, while younger professionals offer tech fluency and fresh perspectives. Try pairing employees from different generations on projects or tech trainings. One Ridgemont client saw measurable gains in efficiency and morale after implementing “learning partner” programs that let everyone teach—and be taught. 3. Communicate in Multiple ModesEach generation has a preferred communication style—some value face-to-face check-ins, others prefer instant messaging or collaborative platforms like Teams. A Harvard Business Review study found that teams adapting communication to fit diverse preferences see 35% higher collaboration scores. Encourage flexibility: clarify expectations, set norms for response times, and use multiple formats to make sure everyone’s voice is heard. 4. Create Shared Learning OpportunitiesTraining sessions and roundtables are powerful tools for connecting people across age groups. Host brief “Generational Insight” sessions once a quarter where staff discuss how they like to learn and collaborate. One specialty pharmacy client reported a 22% drop in staff turnover after introducing open-forum learning events that helped employees understand—not judge—each other’s styles. 5. Model Kindness and CuriosityThe simplest bridge across generations is genuine curiosity. When leaders ask, “Help me understand why this approach works for you,” it opens dialogue instead of defensiveness. Gallup reports that employees who feel their opinions count are 4.6x more likely to be engaged. Kindness and curiosity don’t erase generational differences—they make them a source of growth. Bonus Tip: Recognize and Celebrate DifferencesPublicly acknowledge how diversity strengthens your team. Highlight successes from cross-generational collaborations in meetings or newsletters. When people feel valued for their unique strengths, they’re more likely to extend that same respect to others. Final TakeawayBridging generations isn’t about erasing differences—it’s about connecting through kindness, listening, and shared purpose. When teams learn to appreciate each other’s perspectives, collaboration improves, retention rises, and the entire workplace becomes stronger. In pharmacy, where trust and precision matter most, generational harmony isn’t just good culture—it’s good practice. Workplaces today are microcosms of the larger world — and lately, that world feels increasingly divided. From differing political views to social debates that spill into staff conversations, polarization has become an undercurrent in many professional environments. In healthcare settings, where teamwork directly impacts patient outcomes, it can quietly erode trust, collaboration, and morale. Yet amid this tension lies an opportunity — to lead with empathy, create safety, and rebuild a sense of shared purpose. Start with Psychological Safety In recruiting and retention, one trend stands out across every successful team: employees who feel psychologically safe perform better, stay longer, and contribute more openly. Safety doesn’t mean avoiding disagreement — it means cultivating an environment where people feel respected even when they disagree. Leaders set the tone by how they respond under stress. Acknowledging differing perspectives and redirecting the focus back to shared goals (“we’re here to provide great patient care,” “we’re all working toward accuracy and excellence”) helps diffuse tension before it divides. Neutral Ground Isn’t Weak — It’s Wise Leaders sometimes fear that maintaining neutrality will be mistaken for apathy, but in reality, it’s a sign of emotional intelligence and leadership maturity. In a polarized workplace, neutrality creates the psychological space for people to express themselves safely—without conversations devolving into “us versus them.” Research supports this approach. A 2023 Gallup study found that 70% of employees who describe their workplace as “respectful” also report being highly engaged, compared with only 17% of those who feel tension or bias among coworkers. Likewise, the Harvard Business Review reports that psychologically safe teams outperform peers by up to 27% in productivity and 50% in employee retention. For pharmacy organizations—where precision, trust, and collaboration directly affect patient outcomes—those numbers are especially significant. When staff trust that they can speak respectfully, ask questions, and assume good intent, error rates decrease, and morale improves. Neutrality and kindness are not passive stances; they are deliberate leadership choices that build stability and sustain focus on what matters most: quality care and teamwork. Reinforce Core Values Every pharmacy — whether hospital, retail, or specialty — thrives on shared values: patient safety, ethical conduct, and care excellence. Leaders who re-center daily operations around these values remind teams what truly matters. Posting them, discussing them in meetings, or acknowledging staff for living them out keeps culture aligned when outside conversations threaten to pull it apart. Recruitment and Retention Through Safety For recruiters, psychological safety isn’t just internal — it’s part of the candidate experience. Interview environments that feel open, nonjudgmental, and human build trust early. Candidates sense authenticity, and that sense of belonging starts before day one. In today’s market, where pharmacy talent shortages are returning, kindness and cultural safety aren’t “extras.” They’re differentiators. Teams that feel emotionally safe attract the kind of talent that stays. Client Perspective My most successful clients consistently point to one key factor in long-term retention: culture. These employers have learned that benefits and bonuses can attract candidates—but belonging keeps them. They emphasize that when employees feel genuinely seen, supported, and respected, they don’t just stay longer; they perform better and contribute more openly. One pharmacy director shared that introducing regular “listening rounds” with staff reduced turnover and improved communication almost immediately. Another HR leader noted that shifting the focus from rigid qualifications to team fit and shared values not only filled roles faster but also created a more cohesive, collaborative environment. The common thread across these success stories is simple yet powerful: when people can bring their whole selves to work without fear of judgment or division, engagement rises—and recruiting becomes easier. Teams built on respect and psychological safety don’t just function well; they flourish. Final Takeaway As the world outside grows louder, the most powerful thing a leader can do inside the workplace is quiet the noise — not by suppressing it, but by creating space for respect and understanding. Kindness isn’t a strategy born of weakness. It’s strength, expressed with grace. In pharmacy, certifications and credentials matter—but respect isn’t built on titles alone. True influence comes from everyday actions your colleagues notice, even when you don’t realize it.
Here are 16 habits that respected leaders display everyday:
Are you a ‘Toxic Handler’ – the manager finds themselves bearing the pain and complex emotions of your staff? A recent study showed that leaders help their coworkers with personal issues and worries nearly as frequently as they help with work-related matters. However, shouldering this emotional load is not equally distributed but falls disproportionately on select leaders that tend to notice when staff are distressed and understand how that often diminishes their performance and collaboration.
Leading in today's work environment is emotionally demanding, especially when supporting your team's well-being. If you share this struggle, check out this article from our friends at the Harvard Business Review that discusses 5 proven strategies you can use to help you and your team excel without burning out: Leading Effectively When Your Team Offloads Their Stress onto You Transitioning into pharmacy management is a significant career leap. I’ve been fortunate to help many of my client’s level up their career and noticed that the quickest climbers always have a long list of questions and concerns. Starting off on the right foot requires the ability to graciously learn from mistakes (yours and others) as you navigate your new role. Here are 6 tips to make that happen:
Embracing this new position with the right mindset and strategies is essential for long-term success. By showing appreciation, delegating responsibilities, maintaining regular communication, staying composed under pressure, and keeping up with industry advancements, you can effectively lead your team and foster a positive work environment. Remember, the journey to becoming a great manager is a continuous process of learning and adapting. Congratulations on your promotion! Best of luck as you embark on this exciting new chapter. Retaining top pharmacy talent is a significant workforce challenge. More than simply keeping people happy, strategic retention efforts build better outcomes for patients, staff, the organization itself and the communities they serve. Organizations that prioritize employee retention reap compounding rewards through a more stable workforce and report up to 30% higher productivity and 21% greater profitability. Retention vs RecruitingOften thought of as proof of loyalty, retention is more accurately described as an organization’s ability to foster employee loyalty. While specialist pharmacy recruiters play an essential role in identifying and attracting top talent, retention is the responsibility of pharmacy employers. Specialist recruiters are experts in sourcing and vetting highly qualified candidates in the pharmacy sector. Finding candidates with the necessary qualifications is only one aspect of a specialty recruiters’ role. Assessing a candidate’s compatibility with an employer’s culture and values is often overlooked. This careful matching process ensures that candidates presented to an employer are not just skilled but also a good fit for the organization and likely to become a long-term employee. Organizational BenefitsComprehensive employee retention programs build more stable and productive workforce resulting in more efficient, effective and profitable operations. Here are some key advantages:
Patient BenefitsPharmacy employee retention programs benefit patients and the community in several significant ways, contributing to improved healthcare outcomes, enhanced service quality, and overall community well-being. Here are the key benefits:
How to Improve Pharmacy Staff RetentionWhile recruiters excel at finding talented candidates, retaining these professionals is a different challenge that falls to the employers. Improving pharmacy staff retention is essential for maintaining a stable, productive, and high-quality workforce. Here are some tips to help achieve this that hospital and local pharmacies have used to retain and attract top talent: Create a Positive Pharmacy Environment
Provide Professional Development Opportunities
Ensure Work-Life Balance
Enhance Job Security and Stability
Foster a Culture of Feedback and Improvement
Invest in Technology and Resources
Promote a Healthy Workplace
Encourage Work Autonomy and Responsibility
Promote Team and Community Engagement
The TakeawayInvesting in pharmacy employee retention is not only a smart business decision but also a vital contribution to public health and community vitality. Benefits that extend well beyond the immediate workplace.
Retention programs build a loyal, skilled, and motivated workforce that contribute significantly to long-term success through improved operational efficiency while simultaneously enhancing patient care, improving health outcomes, and helping community health initiatives all flourish under the stability provided by effective retention strategies.
5/23/2024
Do You Dread Going to Work?Are you burned out? What are the signs? And what’s the best way to prevent it? To find out, ask yourself:
In my experience, the best way to prevent pharmacy burnout is to be proactive. Speak up. It’s very likely some of your coworkers also have similar feelings, and talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can help. Talk to your manager, too. If they don’t know how you feel, nothing will ever change. Perhaps the best way to prevent burnout is to choose the type of practice and employer wisely. The last thing you want to do is feel stuck in a pharmacy setting that doesn’t feel rewarding or challenging, or working for an employer who doesn’t treat you well. Sometime a change is what you need to reinvigorate your career. Reach out to me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear about what you are going through and hopefully help you find opportunities that could be a better fit. 📌 Want to level up your career performance? Follow @Jana Rugg for top tips to help pharmacy owners, managers & directors, staff& clinical pharmacists, Pharmacy techs and intake specialists' level up!
5/2/2024
Leadership Green FlagsPeople appreciate the positive vibes great leaders bring to the workplace. Listening to my clients share their experiences has given me greater appreciation for how the 'little things' make a huge impact. Here are a few of the 'Green Flags' that great leaders of all levels share:
What characteristics have you found most endearing in leaders you’ve worked with? Share your comments below. Be sure to tag those that have made a positive difference for you and make their day️!
📌 Want to level up your career performance? Follow @Jana Rugg for top tips to help pharmacy owners, managers & directors, staff& clinical pharmacists, Pharmacy techs and intake specialists' level up! Workforce shortages present serious challenges for pharmacies. Pharmacists are frustrated by expanding roles, responsibilities and how understaffing may put patients at risk. Record high sign-on bonuses and salaries are not solving the problem. And, retail pharmacy chains seem ambivalent to the issues. When will chain pharmacies begin treating staff as people and how will they leverage technology to better serve patients and staff? Read on to learn why this is happening and when the staffing conundrum might be resolved. Why is This Happening? The pharmacy business model is changing. Pharmacy retail chains are staking their future on expanding the health care services they offer. Thousands of community pharmacies are disappearing as retail chains acquire each other, close stores, reduce store hours and lay off staff. Pharmacists and technicians are required to perform expanding duties with less support and longer hours. And prescription fill volumes are only increasing as are the services performed by retail pharmacies. Fewer pharmacies are fulfilling growing demand and pharmacy staff are getting squeezed from all directions. It’s unsustainable. It’s dangerously irresponsible. Pharmacists and technicians are fed up. Talent Drain It’s getting harder to draw the next generation of pharmacists amid an industry in turmoil. As front-line providers, pharmacists bear the harsh burden of change. Bled Tanow, a former Walgeens pharmacist agreed saying, pharmacists “carry the weight of the pharmacy on their shoulders.” The once-revered community pharmacist role has been diluted over the years. The perception and desirability of the profession has declined, and the talent pipeline is dwindling accordingly. Graduation rates and applications to pharmacy schools are in steady decline. There's been a steady drop in applications to pharmacy schools, falling 64% from nearly 100,000 in 2012 to about 36,000 in 2022, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Breaking Point Understaffing fuels pharmacy staff burn-out and put patients at risk. Pharmacists, administrators and advocacy groups are ringing the alarm bells. Around the country pharmacy staff have staged walkouts to raise awareness of harsh working conditions that make it difficult to safely fill prescriptions and the danger this poses for patients. A New York Times article highlighted the pressure on pharmacy staff to do more with much less. “It was so mentally taxing,” said Dr. Poole, a Tuscaloosa retail chain pharmacist. “Every day, I was like: I hope I don’t kill anyone.” Workload Demands Chain pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens appear to ignore concerns, consistently slashing staffing levels while saddling front-line workers with an expanding list of additional duties. A 2022 APhA survey showed that nearly 75% of respondents felt they did not have enough time to safely perform clinical duties and patient care. When faced with inquiries from the media or regulatory bodies, chain pharmacies often attribute their challenges to the impact of COVID-19 and assert that the data they are scrutinized for is outdated. However, this explanation falls short in addressing the persistent issue of understaffing. Despite the closure of hundreds of community pharmacies over the past decade, there remains a pool of qualified pharmacists and technicians seeking employment opportunities. The discrepancy between the available workforce and the ongoing understaffing raises pertinent questions about the dynamics within chain pharmacies. Retail stores often operate with just one pharmacist behind the counter for a 12-hour shift. A USA TODAY investigation revealed that 10 years ago a pharmacy might have had two pharmacists and six pharmacy technicians filling an average of 500 prescriptions a day. Today that same store may have half the staff and a higher prescription volume – plus an endless flow of vaccine appointments, rapid tests and patient consultation calls. It’s a recipe for disaster. “Pharmacists are so overwhelmed and worried that they’re going to make a mistake. It’s so easy to make a mistake under those conditions,” said Shane Jerominski, a pharmacy labor advocate who spent a decade working at chain pharmacies including Walgreens and now manages an independent pharmacy. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are often on the front lines, dealing with an ever-increasing workload. The expansion of services offered by pharmacies, such as vaccinations and patient monitoring, has not been matched with adequate pharmacy staffing, leading to burnout and publicized staff walkouts. “The primary reason is our concern for public safety,” said Corey Schneider, one of the CVS pharmacists who participated in the Kansas City walkout. “It’s also about basic decency. Pharmacists shouldn’t have to cry at work or go home worried that they made a mistake.” One CVS pharmacist reported that as CVS first began to cut staff, they budgeted additional staff hours. But that soon ended and the increased volume became part of the normal daily workload. She often found herself filling one prescription every minute and a half over the course of a 13-hour shift. Real-Life Consequences Perils linked to understaffing are undeniable. Persistent understaffing and mandated quotas in pharmacies jeopardize patients and staff. Hazardous working conditions lead to burnout and exacerbate the risk of serious errors. The dangers are real. The consequences can be grave. A 2022 survey conducted by the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) showed that 91.4 per cent of pharmacy staff experienced burnout because of understaffing, high workloads, high expectations, low wages, and productivity quotas. In the long run, understaffing can negatively impact the health and well-being of pharmacy staff. The results of staff shortages can range from mild patient inconveniences to harmful medication incidents. In many cases, pharmacy errors due to unsustainable workloads have had significant consequences. A Virginia Beach a customer ended up in the ER after receiving an antibiotic despite a known history of not tolerating the drug. “The pharmacists cannot properly concentrate because they have so much to do,” said Kristopher Ratliff, a member of Virginia’s Board of Pharmacy. In Florida, an 85-year-old died after a Publix pharmacy dispensed a chemotherapy drug instead of the antidepressant she was prescribed. Health dangers aren’t limited to patients. Ashleigh Anderson suffered a heart attack while working a shift at a CVS store in Seymour, Indiana, in September 2021. Anderson was the only pharmacist on duty the day she died. Direct statistics are murky at best but a recent study reveals that pharmacists are at higher risk of suicide - at an approximate rate of 20 per 100,000 pharmacists compared to 12 per 100,000 in the general population. What’s the Pharmacy Staffing Solution? Chain pharmacies initially responded with financial incentives. It hasn’t worked. While financial incentives like sign-on bonuses are attractive, they fail to address deeper retail pharmacy issues such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, and long-term career prospects. Bonuses can create a culture of transience, where individuals hop from job to job in pursuit of the next bonus, rather than committing to a particular employer or community. And, they fail to provide long-term solution. Critial Thinking To address these challenges, pharmacy chains must rethink their approach to staffing. Young people have to see pharmacy as a viable career path. This includes creating a more sustainable work environment, offering better support and career development opportunities, and re-establishing the role of the pharmacist as a respected and integral part of the healthcare system. A holistic approach that addresses the root causes of dissatisfaction and burnout is essential for attracting and retaining the dedicated professionals needed to keep our communities healthy. Pharmacists are People Too Pharmacy staff gets yelled at. A lot. Pharmacies are usually the last stop for weary, frustrated and overwhelmed patients. Often staff literally feel patients’ pain. Most patients don’t really understand what goes in to filling a prescription. It’s more than taking pills from a big bottle and putting them into a smaller bottle. Pharmacists are charged with assessing what medications a customer is taking, ensuring that there will be no adverse interactions and advise them about side effects and best practices. Retail chains must establish an environment where pharmacists and technicians:
Technology Solutions With pharmacy-school applicants shrinking and the current workforce pool drying up, retail chains see a future filled with automation and remote processing. The sad reality is that the workforce shortage is likely to worsen. Technology can help retail pharmacies weather the talent shortage today while improving safety, efficiency and patient interactions moving forward. Retail pharmacies can improve pharmacy working conditions and customer experiences through a variety of systems designed to:
An estimated 68% of medication errors occur during administration. Digital drug dispensing systems (DDS) are capable of nearly eliminating errors while simultaneously accelerating prescription processing. And these systems reduce pharmacists’ stress while freeing them up to spend more time on tasks that require human interaction such as patient consultations. Automating medication inventory management directly impacts patient safety, satisfaction, and outcomes. And reduces pharmacy staff workload by virtually eliminating manual, error-prone methods, such as “eyeballing the bottle,” to capture inventory levels. Automated systems accurately and efficiently support chain-wide inventory counts, forecasting, and replenishment. Conclusion Healthcare industry stakeholders must address the critical issue of pharmacy understaffing before more lives are put at risk. The time to act is now. It is imperative that we heed the warnings of pharmacists, administrators, and advocacy groups to prevent burnout and protect patients. Only through concerted efforts and systemic changes can we ensure the safe dispensing of medications and the well-being of pharmacy staff. About Ridgemont ResourcesRidgemont Resources is the leading national search and recruitment firm dedicated exclusively to the pharmacy profession. Since 1998, we have been committed to finding and securing the best candidates in the United States for our clients in the Hospital, Specialty Pharmacy, Long Term Care Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Science, and Clinical Research industries.
Mastering these 15 core interview questions will give you the edge over other potential candidates. Confident responses when navigating your job interview can be as challenging as getting through pharmacy school. Interviews can be high stress, anxiety-driving situations. Whether you’re fresh out of residency or a seasoned veteran, preparation always pays off. Interviewers will probe your knowledge, patient-care acumen, and decision-making skills. Likely you already know the right answers. But will you be able deliver clear, concise answers under pressure? Here are 15 essential questions that you’re likely to face during your next clinical pharmacist job interview and some expert tips on how to respond. 1. Can you describe your experience as a clinical pharmacist and how it has prepared you for this role? Expert Tip: This is your elevator pitch. Tailor your answer to highlight experiences relevant to the job description, such as managing a specific patient population or a successful project. 2. How Do You Stay Current With New Medications and Treatment Protocols? Expert Tip: Discuss your strategies, whether it's subscribing to journals, attending conferences, or participating in webinars. 3. How Do You Prioritize Adverse Drug Event (ADE) Reports and Take Action?
Expert Tip: Explain your approach, which should include severity assessment and direct patient communication if necessary. TULSA, OK March. 15, 2023 // Ridgemont Resources, the leading specialty pharmacy recruiting firm in the United States, is pleased to announce that it has been officially approved for General Services Administration (GSA) Contract #: 36F79723D0085. The five-year contract further solidifies Ridgemont Resources as a trusted and reliable partner authorized to place pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and speech language pathologists as contractors within government facilities.
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Ridgemont Resources is committed to facilitating equal employment opportunities to all.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, religion, or disability.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, religion, or disability.
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