apprentice

pharmacist

pharmacy assistant

pharmacy dispenser

service assistant

Cohens-Chemist

Becoming a pharmacy technician has always been a dream of mine. I feel I would be really good at it, however with no experience I had to work from the ground up. And let me tell you, I feel like I was stomped further into the ground. I've always had a general in medicine since I'm on a cocktail myself for my own issues! I'm still recovering from a severe mental breakdown due to this company and this happened within a month of working there. Where do I even begin.... 

- I thought it was just because of restrictions when I started but my lord was I wrong. Long queues out the door and horrific waiting times for patients all day long myself and other assistants were run off their feet constantly. There would be max 4 people out front and still struggled. Personally I'd rack up 10,000-15,000 steps a day just from being in the pharmacy.

- Branch was always behind on prescriptions and have since got progressively more behind. A week for a script to be done is horrific. 

- Poor organisation; having to search through hundreds of baskets to find a script that had been picked but not signed or labeled. There was an area for missing items, an area for fridge and inhalers. There were baskets stacked all over the place and as someone new to the environment I found this extremely stressful and confusing.

- lack of computers which held up the queue more so. Certain computers couldn't access certain things meaning as an employee we were just stood around waiting for a specific computer to come free.

- Very little training given. I was told to read the procedure manual and how to use a step stool and was expected to do the job as if I was fully qualified. Bearing in mind I have customer service experience but I had no medical background. I knew the basics of medication but knew NOTHING regarding interactions or things to ask or to look out for. I was always told to ask for help and when I did I felt like a burden. I was allowed to sell OTC items but not without consulting someone else first, this was very stressful especially if no one was free. I felt like a lemon. 

- After a month I was not enrolled onto my course which I found really unusual... I was expecting to be enrolled within the first couple of weeks and especially with no medical background surely it was curtail I started my course ASAP. 

- I ended up being signed off long term and I've had very little contact from the branch regarding this. I do understand they have to be respectful with personal space but barely anything for 6 months is really disheartening and I don't feel like a valued employee even though I busted my butt off for a whole month proving to them I was the right person for the job. With my condition, stress, chaos, constant confrontation and instability is a major trigger for me. Working on a call centre dealing with complaints and people shouting at you all day was less stressful that working here. Therefore I have decided to leave the company. 

- Expected as an apprentice to work 40 hours a week. No study allowance given. I worked 9 hours which included my break... However by the time I'd get home I'd be completely exhausted so it would be eat, shower, take my meds and go to bed. I had no life. My weekends were consumed by catching up on sleep and trying to recharge before the chaos starts again Monday. 

I will give 2 positives - 
1. The branch outfront was always spotless, cleaned and disinfected daily. Counters were wiped down after every other customer and the shelves were always stocked up.

2. When entering work one day mid panic attack, I was given half an hour to calm myself down before starting my shift.



worked for cohens for almost 6 years and the positives are they are never understaffed,generally overstaffed in branch I worked but bonus system was joke as changed from year to year and management /head office always gave out conflicting criteria,any issues raised during general working day almost always is referred to head office who generally pass you from pillar to post,you never get a straight prompt answer everything is given the runaround and is never straight forward!Branch were I worked was fine until supervisor started employing all friends/associates for any vacancy that popped up regardless if they could do the job,any other applicants were disregarded as ultimately she interviewed.Its fine until you disagree with something in respect of this and then unfortunately the immaturity shines through as did the lack of front support even though people acknowledge their concerns to you,nobody speaks up.Moved on to more challenging and professional workplace and should have done it years ago!As long as your prepared to be sheep and follow then probably job for you anyone else forget it!

Worked as a Working at Cohens Chemist was a valuable and insightful experience. As a member of the pharmacy team, I gained hands-on knowledge of prescription handling, stock management, and customer service in a fast-paced environment. The staff were supportive and welcoming, creating a positive team atmosphere where I felt comfortable asking questions and learning new tasks. I was trusted with responsibilities such as managing confidential data, helping customers with queries, and using pharmacy software to check prescriptions—skills that boosted my confidence and professionalism. The work could be demanding at times, especially during busy periods, but it helped me develop stronger communication and time management skills. I also appreciated the emphasis on accuracy and patient care, which taught me the importance of working with integrity. Overall, it was a rewarding experience that gave me a solid foundation in healthcare operations and workplace professionalism.

I have worked for this company for the last 23 and half years, and I can honestly say the last 5 have been awful. The workload has increased significantly, the manager is great to work for but is absolutely run ragged very often staying late just to get work finished. I myself go in half an hour early almost every day and on my day off just to deal with aftermath of previous day, I wish management from head office would come and spend a day working on the front line so to speak instead of sitting there making up more sops and rules for staff that just pile the pressure on, 'cleaning'! you can forget that, we've hardly got time to breathe never mind pick a cloth up. By the end of a week I'm knackered and fit for nothing only to have to start the whole soul destroying process again the next week,. I have never felt so undervalued by head office as I do now, I just want to say to them we are people not numbers, and these people work hard for them for very little consideration.

I worked at Cohens as a dispenser for 25 years. I used to love my job. All of that started to change about 10 years ago. Although the managers I’ve worked with have been good, they can only do so much without backup from head office. This was non existent. Over time our staffing was reduced massively, whilst our workload increased. Although reduced, the team we had, worked well together, trying to get through the constantly increasing workload, but there simply were not enough of us. The pressure to work faster and more efficiently was relentless. Myself and other staff members were often reduced to tears, purely because we struggled to get through the days. Cleaning was non existent. Getting scripts ready and trays made up, left no time for general housekeeping. 
I left before Christmas, I simply could not do it any longer. I am now struggling financially, but would not go back to work for Cohens, whatever they were willing to pay me.

Finally decided to leave this place as I physically and mentally couldn’t hack it anymore only lasted 4 months, colleges (including manager) were bullies so couldn’t ask for help. Sly comment were thrown here there and everywhere sometimes had the curtesy to whisper but I could still hear the comments, made me feel deflated each day. Didn’t qualify for a pay rise but everyone else did even though they sat back whilst I was given so many jobs to do I was paid less which I feel is disgusting in its own right, every April EVERYONE is entitled to a pay rise not just who they pick and choose, even on probation- never had this problem in a previous pharmacy. Due to hours being cut no one wants to do over time or help out so when someone’s on holiday or phones in sick there’s absolutely no support what so ever! Literally left pulling your hair out especially on a Friday!

Worked in Cohens fo 3 years and while my co-workers were amazing managment and head office are a joke. Increased work load and excpectations but 0 support, seem to repeat your concerns constantly but they never get addressed. Customers complain regularly but theres nothing you can do about it because your overwhelmed. I explained that our team was having problems with our manager (by problems they were having an affair with our supervisor so as you can imagine it was super professional) and head office fixed it by making me a locum. Travelling up to an hour away to cover other stores felt like I was being punished for speaking out. Ended up with a sick note and never returned, my family life and mental health werent worth the company. Spoke to other staff and its still the same do not do it.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Being able to do your qualifications and some of the staff are great 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Poorly trained management and supervisor.. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment was great when your working with people who you get on with but when you feel bullied by a couple of members of staff the work environment can be horrible and tiring and you can't bring it up cause then your the bad person 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Labelling, downloading scripts, answering phones, speaking to customers, giving the shop a clean and dispensary, doing scripts when customers come in, sorting out the hub, sorting order out, doing blister trays.

I have learned a lot at my current work place. My collegues are friendly and fun. We all have lots in Common and the Responsible 
Pharmacist is in my opinion an excellent manager and Friend.
I am grateful to the Company for allowing and encouraging me to better myself and achieve better skills
The hardest part of the job was losing Patients who had passed away, we had a special repore with the majority of them.
The enjoyable part was helping people with advice and making them fell better. An enjoyable aspect was the fact that we all got along famously. My co-workers were all fantastic.
A day at work was mostly enjoyable, educational and Pleasant.

After working with this company for 4 years I have never been in such an unprofessional toxic work environment. 
New Manager is rude, unprofessional and childish some staff members are lovely others are very toxic, clicks are formed making it an awkward nasty environment to work in staff are not trained properly really would not recommend working for this company. After leaving I had patients reach out to me via social media asking me if I was okay and that they had overheard staff speaking about me in a nasty fashion which they and myself found very embarrassing and unprofessional. If you like working in a horrible atmosphere with no appreciation and a stressful environment then this is the place for you! 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Apprentice 6 salaries reported	£7.55 per hour
Pharmacist 3 salaries reported	£45,333 per year
Pharmacy assistant 1 salary reported	£11,565 per year
Pharmacy dispenser 3 salaries reported	£21,200 per year
Service assistant 1 salary reported	£25,000 per year

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