In News

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association has issued a warning to locums amid concerns some are locked into unfavourable contractual terms while being owed substantial amounts of money in overdue payments as it raised concerns around "wage theft".

In advice published on the PDA website on Wednesday March 19, the organisation said it had members who were owed “thousands of pounds” in backdated shift payments while still “being booked to work further shifts for the same company” because of a contract clause that states eight weeks’ notice is required to cancel. 

“Having committed to give eight weeks’ notice of cancellation, that can mean almost two months of additional shifts with uncertainty of whether payment will ever be received,” said the organisation.

It continued: “The PDA advises that booking terms should always be clearly set out to give not just the dates of work, shift times, and rate of pay but also the amount of notice required. 

“Locums should think very carefully before agreeing to booking terms that are incomplete, or which are not in their interests.”

“Some amounts owed to individual pharmacists reportedly exceed £20,000,” said the PDA, adding that locums have been threatened with legal action and wage deductions if they fail to honour bookings. 

It advised locum pharmacists whose payments are not made within the contracted timeframe to contact the company in question to state they feel the payment terms of their contract have been breached and request an immediate response. 

“None of it matters if you’re paid – but some people are doing everything properly and still not getting what they’re owed,” PDA director Paul Day told P3pharmacy.  

He said that last year the PDA helped locums secure £126,000 in unpaid fees, and that judging from concerns being raised so far in 2025 the number could well be higher this year. 

There are “tens” of cases being looked at currently, Mr Day told P3pharmacy.

He advised locum pharmacists: “Don’t sign unreasonable contract terms.” 

He said some locums have been told that after cancelling shifts with an employer who failed to pay on time, the employer then makes deductions from their pay to cover what they claim is the additional cost of securing another locum pharmacist.