Wrongfully terminated by Walgreens

I don't understand the part about "employees have to fill their RX at
Walgreens". What the heck does that mean? Maybe I'm reading it wrong
or something. But it sounds like this in my mind "If you are a
walgreens employee, you have to buy walgreens milk" Is there seriously
a rule saying you have to buy their medication because you are an
employee????

that they found out about your condition via your medical usage,
you'll have a heck of a time proving that it's the ACTUAL reason they
fired you.

Trust me when I say if they let you go, whether it was truly over your
status or not, they have an iron-clad alibi (shift coverage) to back
them up. It will all come down to your word against theirs, so unless
you are willing to go down in a likely vicious fight, you're better
off to cut your losses. You don't need to waste your time and energy
on such a worthless bunch anyway!

It sucks that companies can get away with that, but it's the loophole
in our employment law. The same laws that are supposed to protect
workers are the ones that the smart lawyers will always angle to get
around.

Contact the EEOC and file a complaint if you believe your termination
was unjust.

because my father worked for a pharmaceutical company & retired from
them, so any time he or mom get a med made by that company it's free
for them.

however, it sounds like perhaps walgreens might not be taking all the
necessary steps to ensure patient privacy

and if this is the only walgreens the employee can get to within
reason, there should be steps put in place to ensure patient privacy



yes it is possible that the employee's illness was made known by the
employee's own conversations, but we don't know.

The big question really should be - if the manager wants to know what
medications the employee is on, what's stopping him or her from
accessing that data? Does the manager have the ability to personally
access the information? Does the manager have the ability to coerce
the pharmacist into giving the information up? How about another
employee?

If the answer is yes, that other employees ARE able to look at the
OP's medical information - even if they shouldn't - then that could
case enough doubt on this "store policy" to at least have the
arrangement investigated for HIPAA violations, as well as labor law
violations.


and just because something is "store policy" does not actually mean
it's actually legal.

I wasn't joking when I said a local grocery store (price chopper)
issued a memo to the workers that they would be fired if they were
caught shopping at Wegmans. The outcry of the workers brought it to
the attention of the local media. I remember seeing it on the news.

A store manager would not have access to the any medical records. The
pharmacist, of course, would. And, you just have to trust that a
pharmacist would not give out any medical information like you trust
your doctor will not give out your medical information.

I'm curious about the statement: "employees have to fill their RX at
Walgreens"

I work for a large grocery chain with pharmacies. Our prescription
drug plan only covers prescriptions through our pharmacies or an
affiliated mail order program. I think the OP might be saying that
for the meds to be covered under a prescription plan, it must be thru
walgreens. The OP is free to pay full price anywhere else. Sounds
like a good way for a pharmacy company to control some health care
cost.

If I was in your situation... I would have gone to a local pharmacy to
fill my 'scripts. It's none of their business on what meds you have
to take. There is a bit of confidentialty at pharmacies. I do not
agree w/ discrimination w/ how many times it has been called... but I
do believe it has happened in your case. Yes - you have an illness
that sometimes requires you to miss work - & I do agree w/ earlier
posts about a docs excuse. I do not agree w/ the "you can only fill
'scripts here' bit. I would hate having to fill my peri-menopause
meds at my work... i'm only 36. They would be all "up in my
business". (trying to talk young....)
I believe you do have a case w/ personal confidentiallity (sp)

I don't know who would best be able to handle this--a local labor
board, or a lawyer of some type--but this is screaming "HIPAA
violation" to me.

I kinda thought HIPAA was put in place to prevent situations like
this--somebody getting ahold of your sensitive medical information and
then using it against you.

By ordering you to ONLY purchase your meds at walgreens it sets up a
situation where they are privy to your medical history through your
medication, thus circumventing HIPAA

Then by grilling you over how you contracted HIV further violates your
rights to medical privacy.


It honestly sounds like they are setting up a situation where they are
using confidential medical history information against a worker.


You really should contact the labor board.

Even if this is an "at will" job, I don't see where they have a right
to question you over how you contacted HIV.

I think it's kinda lame that you are required to fill your
prescriptions there. There are a number of illnesses requiring
prescriptions one may not want co-workers knowing about. So much for
pharm/patient confindentiallity on that one.

Otherwise, while it may be possible you were discriminated against,
you did did call in sick alot. A doctors not perhaps could have kept
you from getting written up. You also didn't show up for a shift. All
are reasons for getting written up, and after enough times, fired.

I would be on the phone with an attorney. That practice of making you
fill the scripts there and then using that info against you seems to
break a number of privacy laws.

I am not sure about this, but you may be able to be rehired. Is HIV
considered a long term illness where you may have recourse under the
Americans With Disabilities Act.

thank you for the positive feed back.

I would call a lawyer and see if you have a case. Your medical history
should be private. This policy is a backhanded way to find information
that you should not have to give.