The thought of having an employee stealing from your pharmacy is an uncomfortable topic for any independent pharmacy owner. But it’s one that can’t be ignored. Employee theft is far more common and costly than many owners realize. You can have losses from cash, front-end products, prescription inventory, or even sensitive data.
Addressing workplace theft in your pharmacy requires a balance of strong systems, clear expectations, and a culture where your staff feel trusted and valued. Your pharmacy handles high-value medications, controlled substances, cash, and patient data. Therefore, even small lapses can create outsized risk. Your goal is to build a workflow where accountability is natural and theft becomes hard to rationalize.
The first thing you need to know in combating theft by employees is how to detect it. It isn’t always easy, especially if they’re good at what they do. Keep in mind, most theft doesn’t come from bad people. Instead, most come from preventable gaps in workflow, oversight, or communication. So, addressing the issue starts with acknowledging that theft is a real risk in any small business. Here is what you should do if you suspect an employee of stealing:
- Collect as much information as possible to support your suspicions. If you come upon irregularities, missing prescriptions, discrepancies in inventory, or behaviors that are concerning. Be sure to maintain confidentiality during the process.
- Investigate thoroughly. And, if needed, review security footage, and conduct interviews. Don’t forget to audit prescription records, as well.
- Prioritize the safety of your patients. Safeguard that any missing or tampered prescriptions are reported to authorities.
- Follow your pharmacy’s policies. Stick to your established plan for addressing employee misconduct.
- Keep strict confidentiality throughout. This helps keeping rumors that can cause harming an employee’s reputation.
- Conduct an interview only if evidence warrants. Be respectful and encourage open and honest communication.
Once you address the whole situation, reflect on what led to the issue. This can help you identify and prevent similar incidents later on.
A Member-Owned Company Serving Independent Pharmacies
PBA Health is dedicated to helping independent pharmacies reach their full potential on the buy-side of their business. Founded and run by pharmacists, PBA Health serves independent pharmacies with group purchasing services, wholesaler contract negotiations, proprietary purchasing tools, and more.
An HDA member, PBA Health operates its own NABP-accredited warehouse with more than 6,000 SKUs, including brands, generics, narcotics CII-CV, cold-storage products, and over-the-counter (OTC) products — offering the lowest prices in the secondary market.
