What Are the Duties of a Shift Leader at a Restaurant?
Working as a shift leader in a restaurant involves a number of varied and changeable duties, as the environment is fast-paced and unpredictable. A shift leader is expected to take on a leadership role, which means that in addition to her own duties, she must have an awareness of the duties of other staff. As far as the front line staff are concerned, the shift leader will normally be the first point of contact for queries or problems.
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Supervising Staff
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Supervising the staff is one of the main duties of a shift leader. This includes making sure staff are carrying out their assigned duties. The level of management involved in a shift leader job does vary in different organizations, but, in general, the post requires motivating and supervising staff.
Dealing with Problems
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Restaurants are fast-moving, dynamic environments, and the unexpected regularly occurs. Restaurant staff in general have to be ready for whatever comes up. A shift leader is basically responsible for the smooth running of the establishment for the duration of a shift, so he is ultimately responsible for handling problems or complaints.
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Customer Service
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Customer service is naturally the primary concern in any restaurant, and shift leaders must ensure it is being carried out to an acceptable level. From making sure staff are giving appropriate service to handling issues and complaints personally, a shift leader will typically always have customer service in mind throughout the day.
Training
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Shift leaders are routinely expected to train staff, whether these staff members are new or are learning a new skill within the restaurant. This means the shift leader must be familiar with each job in the restaurant. This is partly why many shift leaders are people who have been in the restaurant environment for some time, and have had one or more restaurant jobs themselves in the past.
Overseeing Maintenance
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Maintaining the environment is typically the responsibility of the shift leader. This includes keeping the area tidy and clean, as well as making sure any maintenance work is being carried out as necessary. The overall management structure in a restaurant will determine what a shift leader's responsibilities are, but ongoing maintenance usually will be the responsibility of more senior management.
Cash Handling
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Shift leaders often carry out cash handling and reconciliation duties in restaurants. The shift leader will generally prepare, reconcile and keep the restaurant cash registers stocked with change during the shift. Any discrepancies with cash will generally be seen as the responsibility of the shift leader in the first instance.
Safety and Security
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Ensuring the safety and security of the restaurant throughout a shift is primarily the responsibility of the shift leader. Safety is often be a factor in employee training. Making sure the restaurant is secured during the shift and at the end of it, is a common task for shift leaders.
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- Photo Credit Restaurant image by René Schulz from Fotolia.com
