Does Pharmacy Insurance Cover Theft Of Employees’ Personal Items?

A member of staff comes to you with the upsetting news that their bag was stolen from the shop floor – is this covered by your pharmacy insurance?

Not as standard, and we do not recommend getting it added onto your policy. This is because making a claim on your business policy over a stolen jacket or handbag, for example, is not worth it.

Whenever you make a claim on your business insurance, or any other type of insurance, it involves a lot of hassle and paperwork. You also lose any no claims discount you’ve built up. In order for this sacrifice to be worth it, the stolen items in question must be extremely valuable.

Read on to find out the answers to these questions:

• What is pharmacy insurance?
• What do I do if my pharmacy is broken into?
• How do I keep my staff safe?

Pharmacies are high-risk businesses for theft. If you own a pharmacy then it’s important to ensure you have the right insurance cover in place to protect you, and your staff as well as your customers.

What is pharmacy insurance?

Pharmacy insurance is a specialist type of policy that caters for professionals in the pharmaceutical industry, and this includes chemist insurance and dispensary insurance. Pharmacy insurance is made up of protections which are tailored to the specific risks you face in your line of work, such as liability cover with property damage, legal assistance and much more.

Pharmacists are trained professionals who most likely operate in high street shops and other retail premises. Your pharmacy will be a different retail environment than the other shops around you, and your business costs are likely to be higher, especially for business interruption.

Not only that, but pharmacies are subject to specific regulations. By adding specific cover to your policy, you will be able to cover your defense costs if you are brought in front of the regulator if your fitness to practice is ever brought into question.

It’s important to be clear about what insurance you may need in the future, as well as your current needs. Pick up the phone and tell us about your pharmacy, and we’ll be happy to help.

What do I do if my pharmacy is broken into?

First and foremost, you need to phone the Gardai immediately if your pharmacy is broken into or if you or your staff notice anything missing. If the robbery is in progress, do not attempt to intervene, for any reason. It’s not worth the risk to your safety – your insurance provider and the authorities are much better equipped to handle the situation.

Once the Gardai have been out to inspect the premises and have given you a crime number, your next call should be to your insurance. They will walk you through the next steps in the process.

The President of the Irish Pharmacy Union stated not long ago that pharmacists are seen as easy targets by criminals. A survey by the IPU found that 4 out of 5 pharmacies in Ireland had been targeted within 2018, and reports suggest those figures haven’t improved much.

You may think that pharmacy robbers target prescription drugs exclusively, but this isn’t the case. Many are typical retail crimes, such as stealing money from the till, or staff belongings left unsupervised, such as handbags, jackets and phones. High-end perfumes and electrical personal care appliances are also valuable, and are items which many pharmacies often stock.

How do I keep my staff safe?

Install a top of the line alarm system which automatically informs law enforcement if something goes wrong. Test it regularly, and conduct drills with your staff for what to do if this alarm is ever triggered.

Proper lighting both inside and outside the store is also crucial. Advertisements on the windows should be used sparingly, as they block the view of people walking by who may spot a crime in progress.

The safety of your pharmacy staff should be of the utmost priority. Instruct all staff to store belongings in lockers, or at least in the staff break room which should remain locked and difficult to access by the general public.

Remember that it is highly likely that the burglars will come into the store sometime during business hours to scope out the premises. If suspicious persons are noted, or seemingly inappropriate questions are asked about the store or staff, pharmacy employees should note their physical description and discreetly obtain any vehicle license plate number, if possible, and pass on these details to the Gardai.

Wondering if it’s the right decision to make a claim on your pharmacy insurance? Give our experts a call with any and all of your questions, and we can help.