Nashville: (615) 255-2002
Memphis: (901) 379-0900
Chattanooga: (423) 629-0906
Johnson City: (423) 979-0069
Knoxville: (865) 692-4840
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Working in a restaurant or commercial kitchen can be a hard and stressful job. There are days when you’re standing on your feet for hours without a break, dealing with a rush or meal prep responsibilities. The new challenges of inflation have only added to the stress. Many restaurants are dealing with industry-wide staffing issues as well as rising food costs and shortages.
While there might be certain variables outside of your control, there are a few things you can do to reduce stress for your kitchen staff. At ATECH, we’ve partnered with hundreds of restaurants across Tennessee as their repair and maintenance provider. This means we know what your everyday reality looks like. We’ve also learned a few things from our clients when it comes to “reducing the heat” in the back of house.
While there are many ways to create a positive work environment for your staff, here are a few specific ways you can reduce stress as it relates to your commercial kitchen equipment:
1. Optimize the Layout of Your Kitchen
Chefs and kitchen staff are responsible for managing and executing dozens of tasks each day. Even if you’re only responsible for a single dish, preparing that recipe may require a significant number of ingredients and steps to complete it. Arranging your equipment in a way that allows employees to work as efficiently as possible is key to making your commercial kitchen a better environment for your employees. If possible, eliminate the sharp corners, open flames, or protruding hoods that keep employees on their toes with every movement.
2. Create a Safe Working Environment
Creating a safe working environment for your chefs and servers is another helpful way to reduce the stress of working in the industry. Chefs and other kitchen staff are exposed to many hazards in the daily course of duties. Mishaps, falls, sharp tools, heavy equipment, and other issues can make working in a restaurant a potentially dangerous occupation. When it comes to
keeping your employees safe in the kitchen, it’s important to develop clear protocols and consistent procedures for your team to follow. This includes everything from organization practices to
handling commercial kitchen cleaning chemicals.
3. Reduce the Equipment-Related Stressors for Your Staff
Working with commercial kitchen equipment can also create stress for employees. Managing faulty equipment, like having to reignite a burner or unclogging a sink, only adds to the busy nature of their work. There’s nothing worse than being bombarded with orders while working around a grill with one side down or an oven not holding temperature. Investing in
planned maintenance is a great way identify and to address issues before they escalate and ensure all your equipment is operating at peak efficiency.
4. Plan What You’ll Do if Something Goes Wrong
Inevitably, there will be times when an issue arises with a piece of equipment. This can be one of the most stressful experiences in a commercial kitchen. What should an employee do? How will you continue to provide menu items? The best way to “put the fire out” quickly is to have a proactive plan that
prepares your team for kitchen equipment failure. Whether it’s having
oven parts on hand to prevent downtime or
designating responsibilities for kitchen maintenance, being proactive is the best way to reduce stress if (and when) something goes wrong.
5. Keep Your Space Clean
Keeping your commercial kitchen clean and organized is beneficial for maintaining food quality and avoiding potential health code violations. It’s also one of the most effective ways to reduce stress in the kitchen. Proper labeling, prep sheets, and cleaning checklists are all important
keys to running a commercial kitchen successfully.
At ATECH, we’ve built a reputation for providing quick and reliable service for your commercial kitchen equipment. If you’re looking for a partner to service and maintain your restaurant equipment, let us show you why
so many Tennessee businesses trust ATECH. With our help, you can count on your equipment to perform well every day and create a more positive working environment for you and your employees.
Locations also available in Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City
Nashville: (615) 255-2002
Memphis: (901) 379-0900
Chattanooga: (423) 629-0906
Johnson City: (423) 979-0069
Knoxville: (865) 692-4840
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