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How to Keep Your Restaurant Staff Comfortable

• July 28, 2020
• Recent News
• Century Linen Services

Restaurants can be challenging places to work. The hours are long and the demands are intense. Heat, constant movement, sharp objects, and raw food are powerful ingredients for a perfect storm of workplace injuries. 

Fine dining and fast food workers alike have to contend with the same discomforts – being on their feet for hours on end, repetitive, straining work throughout the shift, uncomfortable temperatures, and more. All of this can affect employee productivity and efficiency at work. This is why it’s important to invest in your employees’ comfort.

Comfortable employees are, after all, safer, more productive, and more likely to stay with the business. They’re also less likely to suffer from injuries. As a result, they’re also less likely to take sick days. A safe and comfortable kitchen is also more profitable than a kitchen that is not. A comfortable staff is a win-win for everyone involved.

Some of the most effective ways to keep your restaurant staff comfortable are small, simple changes. Here are some of them:  

1. Start with a Safe Kitchen Design

A safe kitchen layout is a comfortable one. Make sure to maximize your available kitchen space to promote better workflow. Keep a design that optimizes employee movement, simplifies access to tools and ingredients, and reduces the distance they’ll walk between stations.

2. Invest in Proper Kitchen Tools

“Proper” kitchen tools do not necessarily equate to acquiring high-tech equipment. It can be as simple as keeping your existing tools in their best condition. For example, maintaining the sharpness of your knives means that your chopping station employees don’t have to exert as much effort. Employing ergonomic additions to kitchen tools can improve stability and comfort. You can also invest in tools that aid in the heavy lifting and moving of heavy items.

3. Don’t Skimp on Ventilation

Temperature has a significant effect on productivity. In fact, OSHA has a specific set of guidelines on the ideal, safe temperature for workplaces. While kitchens will inevitably be hot, there are ways to keep a comfortable temperature in the kitchen. This is why it is important to invest in the ventilation of your restaurant, especially emphasizing the HVAC situation of your kitchen. 

An optimized HVAC system will make your kitchen more comfortable for your employees. It will also help regulate the cost of heating and air conditioning.

4. A Clean Kitchen is a Comfortable Kitchen

Keeping your kitchen clean also helps make it a safer, more comfortable workplace for your employees. This includes using efficient microfiber mops, wet mops, and disinfectants that make floor cleaning more efficient.

5. The Right Garments

The right kitchen apparel can make a world of difference in how comfortable your employees are while at work. When picking restaurant uniforms for your workforce, make sure they are made from breathable fabrics that promote ease of movement. The design of your uniforms should also be functional: strategically-placed pockets, roomy leg and arm slots, and good range of motion. Most importantly, put an emphasis on proper, comfortable fit for all your uniforms. After all, nothing is more uncomfortable than uniforms with tight collars or waistbands!  

6.  The Right Floor Mats 

One of the major sources of physical discomfort and fatigue in a restaurant is having to work on your feet for long periods of time. The right floor mats can help alleviate this. In choosing your floor mats, keep an eye out for two things: anti-fatigue surfaces and superior traction. An anti-fatigue surface helps improve circulation and reduces stress on the lower back, legs, and feet. Superior traction helps protect against slip and fall accidents while reducing strain on the feet and lower limbs.

Need Help Improving Your Workplace? Contact Century Linen and Uniform! 

We have a selection of products that can help you achieve a safer and more comfortable workplace. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our products and services. Call (800) 721-7648  or contact us here. Feel free to request a free quote!