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Blog posts of '2020' 'August'

How To Prevent Workplace Violence Associated With COVID-19

With coronavirus prevention policies such as masks, social distancing, and restrictions on how many people can be in your restaurant at one time, workers may be threatened or assaulted while trying to enforce these policies.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has released guidelines on how to handle violent workplace situations that may arise due to COVID-19 restrictions. You can implement these strategies in your own restaurant to protect your employees and customers and create a safer space for everyone.

Offer Customers Options That Minimize Contact

Limit in-person contact by offering services such as curbside pickup and delivery. The less in-person contact there is, the less likely a violent situation could occur.

Advertise Social Distancing Policies

Whether it’s hanging up signs or advertising on your website, let customers know what COVID-19 policies you have in place, so customers are aware and know what to expect.

Create a Plan to Respond to Workplace Violence

Train your employees on how to respond to threats or violence and have a plan in place for how to assess and respond to violence and threats. Learn verbal and non-verbal cues that warn of a possible violent situation, including:

  • speaking loudly
  • swearing
  • clenched fists
  • heavy breathing
  • fixed stare
  • pacing

Also teach employees how to respond to violent situations. Lay out a plan for them to follow when a violent or threatening situation arises. Some things you can implement in your plan include:

  • Not arguing with the customer
  • Avoiding threatening gestures i.e. finger pointing
  • Remaining aware and stand by coworkers experiencing a violent situation
  • Not forcing customers who are upset or violent to follow coronavirus prevention policies
  • Going to a safe area (preferably with a locked door and exits), if need be
  • Reporting threats or acts of violence to a supervisor or manager

For more information, view the CDC’s guidelines.

How To Get Your Food Manager Certification Online

Having a food manager certification allows you to lead your team and make sure that proper food safety measures are being taken in order to protect customers as well as your fellow coworkers.

And it is possible to earn this certification entirely online!

Always Food Safe offers online, video-based food manager courses, as well as remotely proctored online exams, so you can complete your food manager certification from the comfort of your own home.

Let’s walk through the steps to help you complete your food protection manager certification online.

Why You Should Get Your Food Manager Certification Online

Online courses allow you to complete your food manager training on your own time and at your own pace, while remotely proctored exams take away the stress of testing centers and provides greater flexibility on when and where you take it.

How It Works: Become Certified in 5 Easy Steps

1.      Choose the Certification Package You Need

Select your state and county to find the food manager training package specifically tailored to your needs and location. Purchase the course or exam separately or select a course and exam bundle. Which one you need will depend on where you are from and your experience level. Some states require food manager training courses, so be sure to check with your local health department.

2.      Set Up Your Account Online

To access your food protection manager training, set up your account with your training provider.

3.      Complete Your Course Online If You Need the Course

If you are taking the course, access it online and complete the training videos at your own pace. Otherwise, just book your exam time.

4.      Book Your Exam Time

You can schedule an exam time at a traditional testing center, or you also have the option to take the exam online through an online testing provider, such as ProctorU. This gives you more options of when you can take the exam so you can find a time that best fits your schedule.

5.      Take and Pass Your Exam to Receive Your Food Manager Certificate

Once you have completed the exam and passed, you can download and print out your food manager certificate at any time. If you didn’t pass on your first attempt, you will have limited retakes so you can try again and pass.

Always Food Safe offers online training for food managers in a number of states. Visit our food manager page and follow the steps above to get started.

Thomas Draudt PBS Special Airs Throughout August 2020

Filmmaker Thomas Draudt is an Emmy Award-Winning producer and an Emmy Nominated Director, and who also directed our Food Manager training videos! Partnering with Rhode Island PBS, he has created his first PBS special, “Second Wind: The Tale of a Sailor,” which originally premiering in August 2019 and will be airing again on various PBS stations in August 2020.

The special documents the career of nautical photographer and sailor Onne van der Wal. His photography career has spanned over 30 years, documenting his adventures sailing around the globe and eventually refurbishing a sailboat of his own.

Check the schedule to see when “Second Wind: The Tale of a Sailor” will be airing on your local PBS station.

And here is a preview of our Food Manager training that Draudt directed.