What is Sidework? A Comprehensive Guide for Restaurant Staff

Sidework. The very word can elicit groans from seasoned servers and nervous anticipation from new hires. It’s an integral part of the restaurant industry, a necessary evil some might say, but understanding what it is, why it exists, and how to excel at it is crucial for anyone working in a restaurant. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into the world of sidework, exploring its nuances, its importance, and the best ways to navigate it successfully.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Basics of Sidework

Sidework, at its core, refers to the secondary tasks and responsibilities assigned to restaurant staff, primarily servers and bussers, in addition to their direct customer service duties. These tasks are designed to maintain the cleanliness, organization, and operational efficiency of the restaurant. Think of it as the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything running smoothly.

It’s important to understand that sidework isn’t just busywork. It’s essential for creating a positive dining experience for customers and ensuring the restaurant operates efficiently. A restaurant can’t rely solely on scheduled cleaning staff to handle every task. Sidework distributes the responsibility and ensures that the restaurant remains presentable and functional throughout the day.

Why Sidework Matters

The importance of sidework extends far beyond simply keeping things tidy. It plays a vital role in several key areas:

Ensuring a Clean and Safe Environment: Sidework tasks like wiping down tables, cleaning spills, and sanitizing surfaces directly contribute to a clean and safe dining environment for both customers and staff. A clean restaurant is a healthy restaurant, and a healthy restaurant is a happy restaurant.
Maintaining Restaurant Organization: Tasks such as restocking supplies, organizing server stations, and ensuring proper inventory levels help maintain organization, which streamlines operations and reduces errors. Organized chaos might work for some, but in a restaurant, organization is key to efficient service.
Enhancing Customer Experience: Even seemingly small sidework tasks can significantly impact the customer experience. Clean tables, readily available condiments, and a well-stocked beverage station all contribute to a more enjoyable and seamless dining experience.
Promoting Teamwork and Collaboration: Sidework often requires teamwork and collaboration among staff members. Servers may need to help bussers clear tables or work together to restock a shared supply station. This fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared responsibility.
Contributing to Operational Efficiency: When sidework is completed efficiently and effectively, it minimizes disruptions and allows the restaurant to operate more smoothly. This translates to faster service, happier customers, and ultimately, increased revenue.

Common Sidework Tasks

Sidework tasks can vary depending on the type of restaurant, its size, and its service style. However, some common tasks are almost universally assigned to servers and bussers. Here are some examples:

Server Sidework

Servers typically have a broader range of sidework responsibilities, reflecting their direct interaction with customers and their overall responsibility for table management. Common server sidework includes:

Table Bussing and Resetting: Clearing tables after guests have finished their meals, wiping them down, and resetting them with clean silverware, napkins, and menus. This is crucial for turning tables quickly and efficiently.
Running Food and Drinks: Assisting in delivering food and drinks to tables, especially during busy periods. This helps to ensure timely service and reduces wait times for customers.
Pre-bussing Tables: Removing dirty dishes and glasses from tables throughout the meal, rather than waiting until the end. This helps to keep the table clean and organized, improving the dining experience.
Refilling Drinks and Condiments: Keeping water glasses filled, refilling condiments such as ketchup, mustard, and salt and pepper shakers. This ensures that customers have everything they need to enjoy their meal.
Polishing Silverware and Glassware: Ensuring that silverware and glassware are clean and free of water spots before being placed on tables. This contributes to the overall presentation of the dining experience.
Restocking Server Stations: Keeping server stations stocked with essential supplies such as napkins, silverware, menus, and condiments. This ensures that servers have everything they need to provide efficient service.
Cleaning and Organizing Server Stations: Wiping down counters, organizing drawers, and removing trash from server stations. This helps to maintain a clean and organized workspace.
Running Side Work Checks: Completing periodic checks of restrooms, dining areas, and other areas of the restaurant to ensure they are clean and well-maintained. This helps to identify and address any issues before they become major problems.

Busser Sidework

Bussers play a critical role in supporting the servers and maintaining the cleanliness of the dining area. Common busser sidework includes:

Clearing Tables: Quickly and efficiently clearing tables after guests have finished their meals. This is the primary responsibility of a busser.
Wiping Down Tables and Chairs: Cleaning tables and chairs thoroughly to remove crumbs, spills, and other debris. This ensures that the tables are ready for the next guests.
Resetting Tables: Setting tables with clean silverware, napkins, and menus. This prepares the tables for the next guests and ensures a smooth dining experience.
Refilling Water Glasses: Keeping water glasses filled for guests. This is a simple but important task that contributes to customer satisfaction.
Sweeping and Mopping Floors: Keeping the floors clean and free of debris. This is important for maintaining a safe and sanitary dining environment.
Stocking Bus Stations: Keeping bus stations stocked with clean linens, silverware, and other essential supplies. This ensures that bussers have everything they need to perform their duties efficiently.
Emptying Trash Cans: Emptying trash cans regularly to prevent overflow and maintain a clean environment.
Assisting Servers: Providing assistance to servers as needed, such as running food or drinks, or helping to bus tables during busy periods. This promotes teamwork and ensures efficient service.

Strategies for Excelling at Sidework

Mastering sidework is essential for becoming a successful restaurant employee. Here are some strategies to help you excel:

Prioritize Tasks: Learn to identify the most important and urgent tasks and tackle them first. For example, clearing a table for waiting guests should take priority over restocking napkins.
Work Efficiently: Develop efficient techniques for completing common sidework tasks. Practice makes perfect, and you’ll become faster and more efficient over time. Focus on speed and accuracy.
Stay Organized: Keep your work area clean and organized. A cluttered workspace can slow you down and make it harder to find what you need.
Communicate Effectively: Communicate with your coworkers to coordinate tasks and ensure that everything is being taken care of. Teamwork is essential in a restaurant environment.
Take Initiative: Don’t wait to be told to do something. Look for tasks that need to be done and take the initiative to complete them.
Be Proactive: Anticipate needs before they arise. For example, if you notice that a condiment station is running low, refill it before customers have to ask.
Stay Positive: Maintain a positive attitude, even when you’re busy or stressed. A positive attitude can make a big difference in your performance and your relationships with your coworkers.
Pay Attention to Detail: Notice the small details that can make a big difference in the customer experience. For example, make sure that tables are wiped down thoroughly and that silverware is polished.
Ask Questions: If you’re unsure about how to do something, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s better to ask questions than to make mistakes.
Learn the System: Every restaurant has its own specific procedures and expectations for sidework. Take the time to learn the system and follow it consistently.

Sidework and Fair Labor Practices

It’s essential that sidework practices comply with fair labor laws. Employees should be compensated fairly for all time worked, including sidework. Restaurants should have clear policies in place regarding sidework and ensure that these policies are consistently enforced. If you suspect unfair labor practices, consult with a labor attorney or regulatory agency.

Conclusion: The Importance of Mastering Sidework

Sidework is an essential component of the restaurant industry. It’s not just about cleaning tables and restocking supplies; it’s about creating a positive dining experience for customers, maintaining a safe and efficient work environment, and contributing to the overall success of the restaurant. By understanding the importance of sidework and developing the skills and strategies to excel at it, you can become a valuable asset to any restaurant team. Mastering sidework is a critical step toward a successful career in the food service industry. By embracing these responsibilities and striving for excellence, you will not only contribute to a better dining experience for customers but also enhance your own skills and advance your career prospects.

What types of tasks typically fall under the umbrella of sidework?

Sidework encompasses a wide range of tasks performed by restaurant staff, primarily servers, to maintain the cleanliness and efficiency of the dining area and support the overall smooth operation of the restaurant. These duties often include setting tables with silverware, napkins, and condiments; stocking server stations with necessary supplies like clean linens, glassware, and straws; refilling ice bins; preparing coffee and tea; and cleaning and sanitizing tables and chairs after guests leave. The specific sidework assignments vary based on the restaurant’s size, menu, and service style.

Beyond the dining area, sidework can also extend to tasks like polishing silverware, folding napkins, cleaning restrooms, taking out trash, and assisting with opening or closing procedures. These duties are designed to ensure the restaurant is presentable, well-stocked, and ready to serve guests. By completing these tasks diligently, servers contribute to a positive dining experience for customers and a more organized and efficient work environment for the entire team.

Why is sidework considered important in a restaurant setting?

Sidework is a crucial component of restaurant operations because it directly impacts the overall quality of service and the guest experience. Consistent and thorough sidework ensures that the dining area is clean, organized, and well-stocked, which contributes to a more welcoming and professional atmosphere. A tidy environment reduces wait times, minimizes errors, and allows servers to focus on providing attentive and personalized service to their tables.

Moreover, sidework fosters a sense of teamwork and shared responsibility among restaurant staff. By contributing to the upkeep of the restaurant, servers help create a collaborative environment where everyone works together to achieve common goals. This shared responsibility promotes efficiency, reduces the burden on individual employees, and ultimately enhances the overall success of the restaurant.

How is sidework typically assigned and managed in a restaurant?

Sidework assignments are usually determined by the restaurant’s management, often a manager or head server, and are typically distributed among the serving staff based on a rotating schedule or a point system. The specific method varies depending on the restaurant’s size and organizational structure. Rotating schedules ensure that all servers share the responsibility of completing different tasks, preventing any one individual from being consistently assigned the less desirable duties.

Point systems, on the other hand, assign points to each sidework task based on its difficulty and time commitment. Servers then choose tasks to accumulate a predetermined number of points, allowing for some flexibility and individual preference. Regardless of the method used, effective management of sidework requires clear communication of expectations, regular monitoring to ensure tasks are completed correctly, and fair and equitable distribution of responsibilities among the serving team.

What happens if sidework isn’t completed properly or consistently?

Failure to complete sidework adequately or consistently can have significant negative consequences for both the restaurant and its employees. A poorly maintained dining area can lead to a negative guest experience, resulting in decreased customer satisfaction, lower tips for servers, and potentially negative online reviews. Dirty tables, empty condiment containers, and unstocked server stations create an unprofessional impression and detract from the overall ambiance of the restaurant.

In addition, incomplete sidework can create added stress and inefficiency for other staff members. When servers neglect their assigned tasks, other employees may be forced to pick up the slack, leading to resentment and decreased morale. This can disrupt the smooth flow of service, increase wait times for guests, and ultimately impact the restaurant’s profitability.

Are there any legal considerations regarding sidework and employee compensation?

Yes, there are important legal considerations regarding sidework and employee compensation, particularly in relation to minimum wage and tip credit laws. In many jurisdictions, employers are allowed to pay tipped employees a lower hourly wage than the standard minimum wage, known as the tip credit. However, this is only permitted if the employee earns enough in tips to reach at least the standard minimum wage.

A crucial aspect of tip credit laws is the percentage of time an employee spends performing non-tip-producing work, such as sidework. In the United States, the “80/20 rule” (and subsequent clarifications) limits the amount of time a tipped employee can spend on duties that do not directly generate tips. If an employee spends more than 20% of their time on non-tip-producing work or performs such work for more than 30 continuous minutes, the employer may be required to pay the employee the full minimum wage for all hours worked, not just for the time exceeding the limits. Restaurants must carefully track and manage sidework to ensure compliance with these regulations.

How can a restaurant ensure sidework is completed efficiently and effectively?

To ensure sidework is completed efficiently and effectively, restaurants should implement clear and structured systems for assigning, tracking, and monitoring tasks. A well-defined sidework checklist that outlines specific responsibilities, standards, and deadlines can provide clarity and accountability for servers. Regularly updating the checklist to reflect changing needs and priorities is also important.

Furthermore, providing adequate training on proper techniques for completing each sidework task is essential. This training should cover not only the “what” but also the “how” and “why” behind each task, emphasizing the importance of efficiency and hygiene. Regular feedback and performance evaluations can also help identify areas for improvement and ensure that servers are meeting expectations. Encouraging teamwork and creating a supportive environment where employees feel comfortable asking for help can further enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

What are some potential challenges associated with managing sidework, and how can they be overcome?

One of the primary challenges in managing sidework is ensuring that tasks are completed consistently and fairly across all employees. Servers may have varying levels of motivation or experience, leading to inconsistencies in the quality and timeliness of their work. Addressing this requires clear communication of expectations, ongoing training and feedback, and a fair system for distributing sidework assignments.

Another challenge is balancing sidework with the primary responsibility of serving guests. Servers may feel overwhelmed if they are assigned too many sidework tasks, which can detract from their ability to provide excellent customer service. To overcome this, restaurants can implement strategies such as staggering sidework assignments throughout the shift, providing additional support during peak hours, and regularly reviewing workloads to ensure they are manageable.