Outdated Health and Safety Checks Are Holding QSRs Back

As customers continue to feel more comfortable dining out, restaurants should have health and safety measures down pat. More than 90 percent of Americans say that it’s vital for a restaurant to be visibly clean while dining indoors, outdoors or when ordering takeout. Exceeding health and safety standards not only ensures the well-being of customers, but it also cultivates a positive experience that fosters loyalty. 

By modernizing employee task management, quick service restaurants (QSRs) can streamline routine health and safety audits. When these procedures are regularly followed, QSRs have the ability to automate additional operational processes, improving employee productivity and ultimately better serving customers.  

Ensure Routine Health and Safety Audits Run Smoothly

Outdated processes, like pen and paper audits, can make health and safety checks a tiresome, time-consuming task with room for human error. QSRs must find a way to guarantee that procedures are followed to easily pass routine checks and keep cleanliness up to par. Optimizing employee management and centralizing communications holds employees accountable for following health and safety procedures, whether that be ensuring that employees wash their hands properly or designated areas are kept clean. 

Unifying communication channels and task management not only allows managers to have visibility on task execution, but it also gives employees a digital resource that can be quickly accessed for information on protocol. For example, managers can easily adjust cleaning schedules and ensure assignments are completed. On the other hand, employees can be sure they’re following the correct protocol for cleaning different areas of the restaurant, such as the restroom or the kitchen. 

Improve Employee Productivity and Knowledge

Streamlining employee management and communications allows QSRs to reduce the time it takes for health and safety procedures to be completed, while simultaneously maintaining the proper standards of cleanliness. Digital employee management allows these protocols to be regularly, easily met, with confirmation that all tasks are completed correctly. This improves employee productivity and gives employees more time and energy to execute additional tasks, without having them feel overwhelmed. 

In an industry known for having a high turnover rate and being a fast-paced environment, proper employee training and education is essential. Centralizing communications and task management allows restaurants to easily educate new and existing employees on all aspects of the business, ranging from cleaning procedures to menu or recipe changes. Employees can access all needed information and helpful resources through their mobile device, guaranteeing that they have everything they need to complete tasks accurately and on-time – from day one. 

Cultivate a Positive Customer Experience

Task management allows restaurants to optimize store operations, therefore giving employees the time and ability to focus on what matters most: the customer. 

In 2022, customers mentioned short staffing three times more often in their Yelp reviews than in the year-ago period, and mentions of long waits rose 23 percent. To combat staffing shortages and provide a quality experience for customers, QSRs must ensure that employees can sufficiently and consistently manage their everyday assignments in order to spend more time on service-oriented tasks. 

When employees properly understand the correct health and safety procedures and can sufficiently complete these tasks in a timely manner, they can better assist diners, such as by improving mobile, drive-thru or delivery order fulfillment. While allowing QSRs to exceed standards of cleanliness, streamlining task management also ensures customers are satisfied with service.

Streamline Health and Safety Procedures to Optimize Restaurant Operations

Following health and safety protocols has always been an essential task for restaurants, but with the recent emphasis on health precautions, exceeding safety standards is a must. QSRs must prioritize the safety of diners, and to do so requires employees who will consistently and accurately keep themselves and the restaurant sanitary. When those health and safety standards are met, QSRs have more time to focus on assisting diners, which is essential for a satisfactory customer experience.