Years Experience: 10-19 years (Canada)

I didn't get where I am today just by doing what I'm supposed to or expected to do. I go beyond that. I worked hard and long to get where I am today. I always made myself the corner stone or pillar of the team. Continually striving to improve and continually learning. My team sees me as an invaluable member. I am often consulted for many things in pharmacy. I do my best and set high standards for myself beyond what is normally expected of me. I strive to be more involved in the pharmacy and other areas within the store. I also train upcoming pharmacists and technicians. There's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it. If you know you are capable of expanding your knowledge and role, then do it. Don't wait for someone to come along and hand it to you. Take control of situations you can handle and don't let it slide. Be on top of it. Maintain a level head and calm atmosphere. You'll be amazed at how much that can help others in your team.

I am a retired nurse. For eight years, I provided a long-time friend ailing with cancer and other illnesses with all manner of support, as a nurse would to any person confined to a wheel chair, managed household accounts, managed other staff hired both to relieve me and for specific duties such as heavy housework, gardening and maintenance. For that, I never received more than minimum wage, nor any bonuses or enhanced pay for working on Christmas, New Years, Éaster, etc. I was even paid substantially less than the relief workers, who cared for my former employer in my absence despite my vastly superior qualifications, experience and duties. My employer has since been moved out of province by two of her daughters, who are unhappy that I asked my employer to give me as a sort of severance package, the equivalent of a dollar an hour for each of the 45,000 hours I worked over that time. The daughters are now asking that I return this money, although this was no financial hardship on my friend who is extremely wealthy. They are complaining that it is costing a great deal more to keep their mother in her new home and need the money. Of course it is costing them more. They are paying staff more than double what I was paid. I am very fond of my friend and sorry that this has caused such issues with her children. I am thinking of returning some of the money. I could well use it, but I can also live without it. If I do this, I will also send an accounting of the difference between what I was paid for my services against the going rate for the period to underline my position that I was only asking for my fair due, and not taking advantage of my friend. I would like to know if anyone else out there has had a similar experience.