Guide to Walgreens benefits
Do you enjoy working with the public and making a difference in people’s lives? Starting a career in retail may be the perfect fit for you! Walgreens is one of America’s leading pharmacies, offering competitive wages and benefits to its employees.
The popular pharmacy chain has over 225,000 employees and 9,021 drugstore locations. Walgreens regularly hires new employees, which means you’re likely to find jobs available near you.
This article will cover basic information on the company and the benefits of working at Walgreens. You’ll also learn about common jobs in the store and how to take advantage of their impressive benefits package.
What is Walgreens?
Walgreens is the second-largest pharmacy retail chain in the US. It all began in 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, and this is where the company headquarters are still located today.
In 2014, Walgreen Co. and Boots merged to form the Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA). This created one of the world’s largest pharmacy-led retail health and well-being enterprises. Since then, Walgreens has become a leader in providing innovative healthcare services, and their stores offer thousands of products ranging from beauty care to home health needs.
The company also provides customers with flu shots, vaccinations, disease screenings, and other medical services.
When shoppers visit their local Walgreens store, they can pick up prescriptions and purchase over-the-counter medications, health and wellness products, beauty products, home care essentials, snacks, and more. The brand also offers photo services and free shipping options.
In addition to these retail services, Walgreens has an exclusive rewards program that allows customers to earn points for in-store or online purchases. They can then use the points to get discounts on future purchases.
Walgreens operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and several other countries worldwide. It’s also one of the largest employers in the US, with nearly 75% of the population living within five miles of a Walgreens pharmacy. This makes it a wonderful option for those seeking to begin a career in retail.
You can find employment opportunities at a local Walgreens location or apply online using the Jobcase job board. There are also opportunities for advancement and career growth as you gain experience with the company.
Why begin a career at Walgreens?
Walgreens employees get an impressive benefits package. It includes healthcare, an employee discount, and paid time off (PTO).
The stores are open every day of the year. As such, employees can take advantage of flexible shifts. You can work around your family commitments, college education, or another job and/or side gig.
If you work hard, Walgreens will support you. They offer the potential for promotions. Depending on your skills, you can work in-store or as part of the pharmacy, corporate, or merchandise departments.
Walgreens is an equal opportunity employer that prides itself on fostering a caring work environment. It's a diverse and inclusive company that understands that every employee is unique.
The types of jobs that may be available include fulfillment specialists, pharmacy apprenticeships, general team members, maintenance technicians, beauty consultants, and store managers.
If this company could be right for you, browse current Walgreens jobs.
Overview of Walgreens benefits for employees
Working for Walgreens offers a suite of health and wellness benefits designed to help employees stay healthy and manage costs. Let's look at some of the benefit categories in more detail:
Health and wellness benefits
Walgreens provides medical, dental, and vision coverage to all eligible employees and their families. There is a range of health plans to choose from, each offering different levels of coverage and benefits. Some medical plans have a health spending account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), which allows individuals to save pre-tax money for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
The dental and vision plans also have different coverage levels, depending on what works best for the employee. There is optional orthodontic coverage, which provides discounts on braces and other orthodontic treatments.
Walgreens also offers reduced prescription costs to all employees. Certain medications are available at a discounted rate and are covered by the employee's health plan. This helps to ensure that employees have access to the medications they need.
When individuals have access to an HSA or FSA, the money can be used to cover over-the-counter medications, as well. These accounts can also be used for medical equipment and other healthcare expenses. They provide a convenient way for employees to access important health-related services without having to worry about the cost.
The company also provides a 365 Get Healthy Here program, which allows employees to track their health and wellness goals. The program includes online tools to help employees set achievable goals and make lifestyle changes to become healthier. One of the main benefits of this program is that it can help employees save money on their health insurance premiums by maintaining their health.
Anyone enrolled in a Walgreens health plan can access all the 365 Get Healthy Here free resources. There are even Walgreens cash rewards for those who go above and beyond in meeting their goals.
Finally, Walgreens offers a Life 365 Employee Assistance Program. This program provides confidential mental health support for employees, their family members, and even former employees. It is designed to help those struggling with personal or work-related issues find the support and resources they need to cope with their challenges.
The Walgreens medical benefits package is an invaluable resource for employees and their families. It provides the necessary coverage to keep employees healthy and covers the costs associated with medical, dental, vision, and orthodontic treatments. Employees can save money on their health insurance premiums along with the 365 Get Healthy Here program.
Without a comprehensive health benefits package like Walgreens', employees may have to pay much of their own out-of-pocket for medical expenses. That's why having access to these benefits is so important.
Financial benefits
Walgreens offers financial benefits for eligible team members. To help you in retirement, there's a 401(k) plan with a plentiful company match of up to 4%. Walgreens matches 100% of your contributions up to that amount — for every dollar you invest, Walgreens invests a dollar, too.
There's also a generous profit-sharing plan and an employee stock purchase plan at Walgreens. Instead of paying full price for stocks, you'll get 10% off the market value.
In addition to these financial benefits, Walgreens provides financial well-being resources. They've teamed up with Fidelity Investments to provide these extra perks.
For example, you can access resources for:
Budgeting
Debt management
Student debt
Estate planning
Preparing and paying for college
How much can you expect to earn? It'll depend on your position, location, and hours worked. For example, sales associates receive an average of $11 per hour. Pharmacy techs can expect about $14 per hour, while cashiers average $10.
The company offers paid-term life insurance to eligible workers. If you're on a salary, your company-paid life insurance will cover you for up to one and a half times your base salary. Hourly paid coordination band team members also get this amount. Hourly paid team members receive $25,000.
For those paid hourly, you could have coverage of up to $25,000. You can also increase your life insurance at your own expense.
But you get more than life insurance. Employees can also purchase pet, home, auto, and disability insurance.
Career benefits
When you work at Walgreens, you'll have access to ongoing training with opportunities for promotion.
For example, you may start as a cashier or sales associate and work toward becoming a store manager or team leader.
There's no experience necessary for entry-level positions, and you can gain valuable experience on the job.
Do you want to boost your career prospects? Walgreens University has hundreds of courses that are available to team members. You can access them internally or via their educational partners.
If you are interested in healthcare and decide to study pharmacy, you may be rewarded with tuition assistance.
Work-life balance benefits
Walgreens understands that a work-life balance is vital to the health and overall well-being of its employees. That's why they offer time off for specific occasions.
In addition to paid time off and parental leave, employees in specific roles can get flexible time off. There are many opportunities to get holidays off, too. However, that depends on your position, as some stores may be open during certain holidays.
Walgreens offers leave for bereavement, jury duty, and military duty. Employees with disabilities may also request additional time off as needed.
Unique Walgreens full-time benefits
There are a few other full-time Walgreens benefits you may not know about. For example, you and your dependents can get a free, optional flu shot each year.
You'll also get an employee discount. You can expect to save 25% on Walgreens products and 15% off everything else. Employees may also be eligible for the prescription savings club and reduced-cost child care.
You can even save money thanks to the transportation benefit plan. With this incentive, you can use pre-tax dollars for transport and parking. This makes commuting more affordable and helps you save on taxes.
How long does it take to be eligible for Walgreens benefits?
The benefits you're entitled to can vary depending on the location, your job role, and how many hours you work per week.
You must work at least 30 hours weekly for most benefits, including PTO. If you're a full-time employee, you'll get more comprehensive benefits than a part-time employee.
Due to recent changes, employees will need to wait until they're at least 64 to receive ongoing health benefits for retirees.
To be eligible for the company match for the 401K plan, you'll need to be employed full-time and with the company for at least one year and have at least 1,000 hours of service with the organization. This can vary depending on your location and specific role.
If you work in-store, you may be eligible for Walgreens benefits after 30 days of employment. After 90 days, you may be eligible for the employee stock purchase plan.
Overall, it usually takes one to three months before employees can access health and wellness benefits. Specifics can vary between stores and job roles. Make sure to reach out to a manager or human resources representative if you have any questions about eligibility requirements.
Being informed and staying proactive in knowing your rights and benefits can help you make the most out of what Walgreens offers. With a wide selection of great health and wellness benefits, you can stay healthy and work your way up the ladder at Walgreens.
4 types of jobs to look for at Walgreens
If you're unsure what jobs to apply for at Walgreens, let's explore the four main sectors you can work in.
1. Call center jobs
Are you comfortable speaking on the phone? Do you prefer a job where you sit at a desk most of the day? If so, you could be an excellent fit for a call center job at Walgreens.
There are four Walgreens call center facilities in the US. However, some work-from-home positions are also available. You can avoid the commute and work from the comfort of your home.
2. In-store jobs
If you prefer to work on your feet, consider an in-store job at Walgreens. You'll work directly with the public and have a variety of job options, such as:
Beauty consultant
Customer service associate
Inventory specialist
Shift lead
Store manager
Getting an in-store job is the best path to becoming a district manager for Walgreens. If that position interests you, consider starting at one of Walgreens' entry-level positions to get some experience.
3. Pharmacy jobs
While the Walgreens pharmacy is inside the store, it's considered a different sector. That's because pharmacy workers are specialized employees who play a critical role in the public's health.
You will only land a job as a pharmacist if you have training for this purpose. However, you can still have a career in the world of pharmacy. You can start as a pharmacy tech apprentice and work to a full-time pharmacy technician position through Walgreens' apprenticeship program, which helps you get certified through one of the recognized boards.
4. Warehouse jobs
Are you interested in warehouse work? If so, working in the Walgreens warehouse could be an exciting career option for you.
Warehouse jobs are ideal for people who want to work on their feet but don't necessarily enjoy working with customers. However, office jobs, like administrative assistant and computer room operator, are also available in the warehouse.
Some warehouse positions, such as senior maintenance technicians, require specialized training.
Access employee benefits at Walgreens
Walgreens benefits are designed to help employees stay healthy and happy. With numerous health & wellness benefits, educational opportunities, work-life balance incentives, and overall financial incentives, Walgreens is a great place to work and grow.
Whether you work in the call center or on the front lines of the warehouse, you can make the most of the employee benefits. From health care to retirement planning and everything in between, there's something for everyone at Walgreens.
If you're ready to start a new career at Walgreens, check out the Getting Hired Resource Center for resume and interview tips. Being prepared and informed can help you get the best out of your experience working with the company.