By Colleen Nyland
A new survey commissioned by SevenRooms indicates 38% of consumers are planning on dining out in the next three months, noting many are eager to see safety protocols, contactless dining and more are inclined toward outdoor dining options. As colder weather months approach, restaurants that relied heavily on outdoor dining spaces, must now focus on how to make indoor dining safe and profitable. According to the CDC, restaurants that have indoor/outdoor dining with less than 6’ spacing between tables present the greatest risk for spread of COVID-19. Providing safety protocols for both employees and guests to follow are important steps to instill confidence when dining. Having a clear and concise safety commitment statement for everyone to follow will assist in increasing business through referrals and repeat business. Here are few examples.
Staff commitment to safety
- All staff will report illnesses prior to work.
- Staff will wash their hands for 20 seconds with 100-degree water whenever their hands become contaminated.
- Sanitizers will be available at the entrance; the host stand and all restrooms.
- A full cleaning will occur prior to opening each day. Every door handle, touched surface, bathroom handle, tabletop, etc. table, chair, bar top, and other surface shall be fully sanitized with anti-bacterial solution after every guest leaves and before another is permitted to take the same space.
- The bathrooms, including counters, entry doorways, handles, and other surfaces shall be fully sanitized each hour of each shift or as needed.
Guest commitment to safety
- Guests are asked to not come to the food establishment if not feeling well or have a temperature greater than 100 degrees.
- Guests are asked to see the host or hostess upon entering in the dining room for their temperature check.
- Guests are asked to inform staff if restrooms need to be restocked or cleaned.
- Guests are asked to wear masks when in contact with staff.
Please contact John Gescheidle at [email protected] if you would like assistance in developing a safety commitment plan. A comprehensive plan is a key element to ensuring guest safety.
The Guest Safety First program is a comprehensive safety program for the foodservice industry offered by Foodservice Safe. The mission of the program is to ensure the guest’s safety is the priority by training foodservice employees with that in mind. Keeping the safety of the guest top of mind will retain and attract guests to any operation. The process begins with assessing an operation’s safety protocols in the area of food safety and the methods for keeping every guest safe on every visit.
