WORKING ALONE
A guide to working alone.
- Always be aware of your surroundings
- Keep tips in the back
- Use down time wisely
- Keep cell phone on you
- If at all possible get payment up front*
- Limit distractions such as loud music, friends, etc.
- If customer makes you feel uncomfortable pretend coworker is in the back
- If multiple customers come in at once, get orders first, apologize in advance for any inconvenience and make order
- Don't miss drops
- Don't be in break room stay up front.
Other Requirements
- Communication is the key to multitasking so you can handle
multiple customers and orders. Continually inform customers where
you're at, examples: "Hello, having coffee?. I'll be right with
you after I place this order"; "Hi, I'm just preparing this order,
I'll be right with you, having coffee?"; "Hi, I need to take this
order and I'll be right with you, having coffee?"; "I'm just
clearing this table, I'll be right with you, having coffee?"
- Write dine-in orders just like normal and enter them through the POS system before preparing them just like if there are two workers.
- * In getting payment up front, explain "I'm on duty alone right now, my coworker stepped away for a moment, so I'm also cooking the food, would you mind if I go ahead and collect now?"
Meal Break and Your Employee Meal
For your break, it's unrealistic to take a full 30-minute break, so during the break window, order your meal on the POS system first, then make the food, then your choice, either stand to eat, or sit in a stool close to the action.
If You Don't Eat
If for some reason you choose not to eat, then create a meal ticket anyway, and using the "open price" feature, explain why you didn't eat.