What should food service employees report to ensure safety?

Food service employees should report their health status before shifts to ensure the safety of both staff and customers. This is crucial because employees who are ill can potentially spread foodborne illnesses and infections, which can have serious ramifications in a food service environment. By communicating any health issues, such as symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, fever, or any highly contagious conditions, employees enable management to take appropriate action, ensuring that food safety standards are maintained and that the health of all patrons is protected.

Work hours, while important for scheduling and payroll purposes, do not directly impact food safety. Customer complaints, although valuable for improving service and operation quality, do not relate directly to the health and safety of food handling. Food storage conditions are critical for food safety, but they are typically the responsibility of managers or specific staff; therefore, employees should prioritize reporting their health status.