Harassment continues at discounter

A FORMER pharmacist who outlined her experience of sexual harassment while working at one of Australia’s “largest discount pharmacies”, in a blog (PD 16 Aug), has reported a number of women have contacted her saying a culture of abuse persists within the group.

Bria Lacy, walked away from her career in pharmacy after her intern year, having being abused by an older male pharmacist.

After dealing with the mental scars of harassment, she wrote to the pharmacy group’s HR department, only to be told it would be “too hard” to investigate her allegations, and “unfair on the other pharmacist”.

In her blog, Lacy reported complaints about the pharmacist’s behaviour from other female staff members had been largely ignored by the organisation.

“I was overwhelmed by the amount of people that reached out to offer support in my time of need,” she said.

“My harasser and previous employers had tainted the pharmacy profession for me.

“I was afraid to rejoin a community I though had left me behind. I now realise that they were always there for me, I just wasn’t speaking to them.

“All of the support has filled my heart with hope.

“However, the amount of messages I have received about people going through similar situations have broken my heart.

“This is still happening - maybe not the same person, but by the same company who are standing idly by while people are abused.

“I was belittled by my previous employers. Tricked into believing that what had happened to me wasn’t a big deal and was too far in the past.

“It took me a long time to forgive myself for not speaking up at the time of my harassment.

“However, you have all inspired me to keep fighting against this kind of behaviour.

“It turns out, I’m just getting started.”