The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”. The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) conducted a study in early 2020 which noted burnout in 75% of participating pharmacists—and this was before the pandemic. Pharmacist burnout is detrimental on many different levels. Good talent is driven away, open positions are tougher to fill, the quality of patient care goes down, and potential mistakes are made. Mistakes that can cost the pharmacy money, or worse, compromise a patient’s health and safety. In August of 2021, Bled Marchall Tanoe, PharmD, started a social media campaign around the hashtag, #PizzaIsNotWorking. She called for greater awareness and support around burnout in the profession, claiming that perks like pizza and other occasional rewards are not enough to combat the crisis. Initiatives like the APhA’s Well-Being Index is one way the industry is acknowledging and addressing this very important issue, providing online resources for pharmacists to measure and manage stress, fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
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