Chemist Warehouse
    (401 reviews)

    Company Reviews

    Working at Chemist Warehouse

    2.4401 ratings in total
    5
    43
    4
    48
    3
    86
    2
    90
    1
    134
    33%
    Rate salary as high or average
    32%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    2.7(398 ratings)
    Career development
    2.3(399 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.2(398 ratings)
    Management
    2.2(399 ratings)
    Working environment
    2.5(399 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    2.8(399 ratings)
    Ratings for Chemist Warehouse are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

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    1.0
    Pharmacist
    Mar 2026
    Epping NSW 212110 to 11 years in the role, former employee
    All work no benefits until you are burnt out and hating work
    The good thingsGetting along with the team and making friends with everyone working there.
    The challengesLow pay, too much resposibility, upper management micromanaging and making work horrible and miserable, upper management don't respect us in any way and do whatever they see fit to make "profits" disregarding how stretched the team is. All they see is profits and making more money but not seeing how burnt out the team is and giving the team the support they require. They just keep taking and taking and never giving back. Even after reaching a milestone of 10 years in the company and not receiving a bit of recognition from upper management. Best not to work in a toxic environment like that and to find work in other community pharmacies. Chemist Warehouse is big on profits but don't really look after staff unfortunately and so they will work you to the bone until you are so burnt out and sick of working and hating it all together.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Mar 2026
    Mango Hill QLD 4509Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Very busy workplace with high demands, similar pay available elsewhere with less pressure
    The good thingsSome of the staff were okay to work with.
    The challengesThe workload is consistently high, with heavy customer demand and ongoing pressure to manage multiple tasks at once. Staffing levels can feel stretched during busy periods, which contributes to a stressful and sometimes unsustainable pace. Considering that pay is based on the standard award rate across pharmacies, there are opportunities in other pharmacy settings such as Priceline or Terrywhite that offer the same level of pay with a lower workload and less pressure. Greater focus on staffing and workload balance would help improve employee wellbeing and reduce burnou
    2.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Mar 2026
    All Melbourne VIC2 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    Average job for less than average pay. You will work yourself silly
    The good thingsThe job keeps you fit.
    The challengesManagement, workload distribution, higher pay (only received minimum wage) for a more demanding job than basic retail.
    2 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Pharmacy Retail Sales Assistant
    Feb 2026
    Beenleigh QLD 42076 to 7 years in the role, current employee
    Great workplace for a student or someone finding out what career they want to pursue.
    The good thingsFriendly atmosphere, great management and flexible hours.
    The challengeskeeping up with constant change and balancing service with compliance.
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Jan 2026
    All Adelaide SALess than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Just a terrible place to work.
    The good thingsAlmost nothing, its a job and you get paid. Some staff members were very nice.
    The challenges'Training' is disorganized and insufficient. Job is mainly stocking shelves, not customer service. Management unprofessional, gossiped about staff with other staff. Rapport building with customers and other staff was discouraged. Extremely understaffed. Poor staff benefits. Their job ads say they offer award rates, overtime and super, so in other words, the absolute minimum. It's a shame, as a large company CW has the opportunity to be a role model as a highly desirable employer, but unfortunately it was disappointing on almost every level.
    3 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Dec 2025
    Melbourne VIC 300015 to 16 years in the role, current employee
    Not even worth a bunch of flowers after 15 years.
    The good thingsRegular customers coming in. At least they care.
    The challengesWork load extreme for the pay. No appreciation. Staff need to remember managers get treated the same. No appreciation.
    4 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Storeperson
    Dec 2025
    Chadstone VIC 3148Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    The worst decision you'll ever make is working here
    The good thingsThe little money they pay.
    The challengesDo not work here. They advertise this role as quite high salary 60k - 65k to attract people to it but you do not get paid even 45k for this working full-time. The pharmacist, Retail manager and the Area manager are all incredibly toxic and it is a very bad working environment. They will treat you very badly, speak to you in horrible tone and expect you to take it and work like the part timers who work there (who have no other options, so they just take it) this job should be your absolute last resort, the bottom of the barrel. They will expect you to do everything for them and you have no one to train you as well. So they expect you to know everything from the start. They are not afraid to pull you aside for no reason just to go off at you, both managers at the same time. The staff here told me about how horrible the management is and why the last two store persons left and that "I'll realise soon why they left". Please have some self-respect and dignity and look for something better
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Dec 2025
    Subiaco WA 6008Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    If you dont mind terrible pay and a terrible environment, this place is for you!
    The good thingsPretty easy work. thats about it
    The challengesThe pay, the people, the environment
    3 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Nov 2025
    Darwin NT 08002 to 3 years in the role, current employee
    I appreciate working here as my colleagues' good behavior helps me become a productive employee.
    The good thingsGood working environment.
    The challengesCatching up with ordering stocks.
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Nov 2025
    Belconnen ACT 26171 to 2 years in the role, current employee
    Bad, stay away. Worst retail experience.
    The good thingsI've made a lot of friends with the other I people met working there.
    The challengesEverything is bad. It is the epitome of bad retail. If you've worked retail before, it is like that except exclusively worse. Staff training is abysmal, if you care at all about your work ethic, this isn't the place. Stock is routinely forced on to the shelf, massively overfilling it, or it's just not put on the shelf. Leading to situations of having to fix others mistakes for, sometimes, hours. I'm not sure if all stores have enacted this, but recently my store has also taken to timing and comparing how fast everyone fills the shelves. This has brought in a myriad of problems, which doesn't seem to matter to the managers. Stock is left on the floor untouched, in the wrong place, all in the name of speed. Boxes pile up to around 6ft at times because no one can be bothered to flatten their boxes since they're being timed. Also the measurement of x boxes per hour is defunct as boxes contents vary from 2 tubs of protein to 20 cartons of makeup. Better, more hands on staff training.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacist
    Sep 2025
    Wodonga VIC 3690Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Would never ever there again
    The good thingsThere wasn’t much of good things except for the staff members
    The challengesEverything. Owners are really toxic as a pharmacist you can be left alone in the dispensary dispensing and checking more than 300 scripts alone putting yourself in a big risk making mistakes. Even though there are more risks to be taken in chemistry warehouse they still pay the lowest. Wouldn’t recommend working there at all
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Sep 2025
    Canberra ACT 2600Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Toxic working environment and Unprofessional Management
    The good thingsThe only positive part of working here was that the salary was always paid on time, nothing else.
    The challengesI worked here full-time and the experience was extremely disappointing. The workplace culture is toxic — favoritism, gossip, and unfair treatment are part of daily life. Hardworking staff are often overlooked, while laziness gets excused. Management does not handle conflicts fairly and often turns a blind eye to serious issues. The environment is stressful and unprofessional, which makes it impossible to grow or feel respected as an employee. Communication is poor, and there’s little accountability for mistakes. If you are only looking for temporary work and don’t mind a chaotic and negative environment, this place might suit you. But if you value respect, fairness, and a healthy workplace culture, I would strongly advise looking elsewhere.
    10 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Experienced Pharmacist
    Aug 2025
    Fyshwick ACT 26092 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    A toxic and unsupportive workplace where genuine concerns are met with punishment, not support.
    The good thingsThe role itself gave me the opportunity to work as a pharmacist in a busy environment, which allowed me to use my professional skills and interact with a wide range of patients. Junior staff members and colleagues were collegial and welcoming, and I enjoyed the connection with customers and colleagues at the ground level.
    The challengesManagement displayed a pattern of micromanagement, excessive scrutiny, and punitive responses to minor issues. There was little regard for employee wellbeing; stress and mental health impacts were treated as inconvenience rather than genuine issues. Work–life balance was virtually absent. Expected to provide up to four weeks’ notice even for a single day of family or personal commitment. The overall culture fostered insecurity and fear, discouraging staff from raising legitimate concerns about safety and professional standards.
    12 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Chemist Warehouse
    Aug 2025
    Norwood SA 5067Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    The summary of my experience working wasn’t the best
    The good thingsThe co workers are really nice
    The challengesThe manager was extremely rude Underpaid
    6 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Assistant Project Coordinator
    Jun 2025
    Preston VIC 30722 to 3 years in the role, current employee
    Opportunities - at a costThe company is exponentially growing so there is always room for personal development if you are looking for it, and job security is quite good with the company seeing redundancy as an absolute last resort. The HR space is always a high stress environment and Chemist Warehouse is not an exception to this. If i had to pick negatives: - the pay is on the lower end of most pay bands - the work load is high, making billions is often at the expense of the worker
    14 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Information Technology Business Analyst
    May 2025
    Preston VIC 3072Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    No professional growth. Waste of time and efforts
    The good thingsSalary is not bad but comes at the cost of mental health
    The challengesToxic culture in IT. You will be recognised based on your connections, instead of performance. Lots of politics, no appreciation for achievements, rule by iron hand. Management actions are mostly performative instead of outcome based.
    19 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Apr 2025
    Lilydale VIC 31401 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Oppressive with no real benefits
    The good thingsThe days go fast because of how busy you are
    The challengesA very harsh environment at the store I was at. You are expected to go above and beyond all the time with no credit (you were looked down upon if you went home at your finish time, and if you stayed home when you were sick). Always promises of further learning and development but never fulfiled.
    23 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Apr 2025
    Adelaide SA 50002 to 3 years in the role, former employee
    If you're deciding, don't work for Chemist Warehouse
    The good thingsSome nice work colleagues, occasional nice customers
    The challengesManagement HR hiring incompetent staff (managers, floor staff etc.) HR refusing to change base rosters upon requests of staff and providing no reason for the refusal Cliquey environment amongst staff Lack of support for staff when faced with extreme workloads Understaffing of stores To name a few
    16 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Business Analyst
    Mar 2025
    Preston VIC 30722 to 3 years in the role, current employee
    Extremely toxic workplace
    The good thingsSalary was on the higher-side however this came at a cost. Decent canteen onsite which is necessary as there are no other lunch options close-by.
    The challengesTerrible location. Some car parks onsite but you have to arrive before 7.30 to get one so most people end up parking in the surrounding streets. Little trust in employees, "if I can see you I know you're working" style culture. Management positions given to family, rather than the most qualified.
    13 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Chemist
    Mar 2025
    Northcote VIC 30701 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    It could be a lot better....
    The good thingsI loved the friends I made along the way, The other staff working were friendly and we were all around the same age so it made the work atmosphere so much better. My manager was nice at times, very flexible but if you weren't able to cover someone they were very mean and doesn't reply.
    The challengesThe pay was horrific, especially with what you are doing! As well as the long hours and there's no room for promotion. My work was understaffed so if you couldn't find a cover you had to work those hours.
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Pharmacy Assistant Level 2
    Mar 2025
    Brisbane QLD 40005 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Good for the short-term
    The good thingsStaff members and immediate management was supportive. Good option for part-time work. At the store I was at, there was a real sense of community most likely came from our shared experiences at the store. There were some perks to the job, e.g. access to sample products and product events.
    The challengesUpper management often imposed KPIs or instituted rules that were difficult to meet or were unrealistic to the reality of the job. The lights, colours, and noise in the store was consistently aggressive and my colleagues and I frequently complained of headaches as a result.
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Mar 2025
    Abbotsford VIC 30671 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Not worth the pay or effort
    The good thingsMaking friends with coworkers on the floor
    The challengesPoor communication skills from pharmacist in charge, also moody and prone to lashing out at workers
    8 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Storeperson
    Feb 2025
    Albury NSW 26401 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    If you're not a pharmacist do not under any circumstances work here!!!
    The good thingsFloor staff are excellent to work with once they get to know you.
    The challengesCant think of a superlative beyond extreme to emphasise how poor upper management is.
    4 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Pharmacist Assistant
    Feb 2025
    Sydney NSW 20005 to 6 years in the role, current employee
    Don't bother, work at Priceline instead!
    The good things- Friendly Co-workers - Genuinely enjoyed interactions with customers at the registers
    The challenges- Micromanagement - Favouritism - Overworked and lack of recognition. - Little to no communication between management. Expects staff to know things when nothing has been communicated. - Pay is not worth what you do at all ($25.65) for an adult. - If you are part-time, there is little to no growth
    9 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Feb 2025
    Gladstone & Central QLD1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    I do not recommend working here
    The good thingsmaking friends with coworkers
    The challengesI got little to no training, and very understaffed compared to the influx of customers, lack of support from management
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Jan 2025
    Crestmead QLD 4132Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Please reconsider this job. Overworked & underpaid (not paid as of yet though, been 4 weeks since I started)
    The good thingsMost of the staff are really nice
    The challengesHave not been paid 9 days after I was meant to be, paying me under my award wage, putting me in a store that's 1.5 hours by bus when there was one in my suburb with positions available, Expected to compete tasks in unrealistic time frames, worked in 4-5 pharmacies for 4 years, this is the worst one.
    11 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Retail Manager
    Jan 2025
    Brisbane QLD 40007 to 8 years in the role, former employee
    Happy I left. Worst 7 years of my life.
    The good thingsCan get free things
    The challengesOwners thinking only about their back pocket and not their employees. Getting paid 70 cents more to be a retail manager than if I was a regular pharmacy assistant.
    10 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Administration Role
    Jan 2025
    Preston VIC 3072Less than 1 year in the role, current employee
    Comfortable, secure workplace.
    The good thingsManagement are so great. All 3 department managers and my team leader are helpful, compassionate, understanding and genuinely want you to grow and succeed.
    The challengesPay is below average, and the benefits exist but they’re not great. Employee discount is less than what products are often on sale for.
    4 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacist
    Jan 2025
    Athelstone SA 5076Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Wouldn't recommend to any pharmacist
    The good thingsGood co-workers ( Pharmacists )
    The challengesPoor pay - Lowest pharmacist pay rate with a ridiculous workload
    5 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Pharmacy Assistant
    Dec 2024
    Launceston TAS 7250
    The staff are the best part of the role, everything else sucks. For what is meant to be a simple retail role the workload is stupid.They constantly order more stock than staff can handle and apply pressure to have it done in a crazy quick time-frame. The staff turn-over and burn out is a constant problem. Time is not allocated for training as it is meant to be. The customers I have dealt with have been some of the rudest people, for some reason here they forget you're a person too.
    The good thingsCo-workers are lovely
    The challengesDifficult customers and workload is far too much for one person
    8 people found this helpful
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