Restaurant Compliance Explained: The Rules and Regulations You Need to Know

Restoration comes with many responsibilities and distractions. Even if you're an owner or manager, you probably have to get your hands dirty and regularly cook, clean, and serve tables alongside your employees.

It allows you to leave aside administrative tasks, HR questions and even restaurant compliance problems.

But what is restaurant compliance and what rules and regulations do restaurants really need to know about?

Restaurant compliance includes food safety and handling regulations, injury prevention, and labor laws that aim to keep your team and customers safe and happy. It is also important to preserve the reputation of your business.

We've detailed what you need to know about restaurant regulation and compliance. We've also included some practical tips to help you avoid compliance risks and breaches. So grab your notepad and pen, and let's go!

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Remember that this information does not constitute legal advice. When in doubt, always consult an employment law attorney for your specific questions about employment law compliance and its implications.

What is Restaurant Compliance?

Restaurant compliance is the adherence to local, state, and federal safety codes, regulations, and standards that govern how restaurant owners and operators conduct their business. In addition to food safety, this also encompasses compliance with labor laws, payroll practices, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations, and even EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) guidelines.

Why are there government regulations for restaurants?

There are several reasons why ‌federal, state, and local regulations for restaurants exist:

Food Safety and Public Health: Regulators rely on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food code recommendations to ensure restaurants promote safe food handling practices and prevent the spread of illnesses and diseases. food origin. Fair Labor Practices: The Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ensures that restaurateurs meet federal, state, and local standards for minimum wages, overtime, and hiring workers under 18 . Safe Work Environments: Working with food can be risky, and owners should follow OSHA safety rules to ensure they create safe and healthy work environments for their staff. Inclusive Workplaces: The EEOC strives to educate employers and employees about workplace discrimination. They also investigate any complaints of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin , disability, age (40 years or older) /em>, or genetic information. Restaurant Compliance Rules Checklist

With so many compliance rules and government regulations to follow in the restaurant industry, restaurant owners, managers and staff need the proper training and processes to stay compliant.

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