Tag Archives: Restaurants

by | March 11, 2013 · 8:08 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Washington Restaurant Closed For Multiple Health Code Violations That Led To Food Poisoning Outbreak

“…(violations included)…foods not protected from cross contamination, poor personal hygiene practices and Restaurant Health Code Violationsinsufficient handwashing; equipment not properly sanitized, handwashing facilities not working and an imminent health hazard: establishment linked to a foodborne illness outbreak…”

The Ambassel Bar and Restaurant on Jefferson Street in Seattle, Washington has been closed by health authorities after they discovered several health violations and associated it with a food poisoning outbreak. Public information officer for the Seattle and King County Health Department Katie Ross told Food Poisoning Bulletin that they are aware of two cases of E. coli associated with this restaurant in mid-February. She said that both cases were adults. One person was “briefly hospitalized” and both have recovered.

Seattle and King County health authorities closed the restaurant, which serves Ethiopian food, after a number of food safety violations were discovered and patrons who ate at the restaurant became ill.  Five violations were listed on the notification of closure.

Restaurant employees are a contributing factor in more than 65 percent of all foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S.,  according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Bacteria that causes disease can be transmitted directly from an infected food employee through food. That’s why restaurant employee health and personal hygiene are so important.

For more:  http://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2013/food-poisoning-outbreak-closes-ambassel-restaurant-in-seattle/

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by | March 10, 2013 · 8:20 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Pennsylvania Restaurant And Bar Settles “Music Copyright Infringement Lawsuit” For $9,000; Disc Jockey Played 12 Songs From Music Catalogue

“…any establishment that plays music is required to pay a licensing fee which, for bars and restaurants, is based on the square footage of the establishment…the owners agreed to settle the case to avoid the expense and Hospitality Industry Music Copyright Lawsuitsuncertainly of continuing the litigation. The settlement equates to a penalty of $750 per song. Federal law allows for penalties up to $30,000 per song…”

The owners of the Brews Brothers bar and restaurant in Jenkins Township have agreed to pay $9,000 to settle a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by a music publishing company. Broadcast Music Inc. filed suit against the bar in October 2012 after a representative from the company visited the establishment that March and witnessed a disc jockey playing 12 songs from artists who are part of BMI’s catalogue.

BMI, one of the nation’s largest music publishing companies, collects and distributes royalties to artists whose music is played on radio, television and at public venues.

BMI has been aggressively enforcing its copyrights in the region over the past several years, filing at least 11 federal lawsuits against various establishments in Luzerne, Lackawanna and other nearby counties since 2010, according to court records.

The settlement, filed Thursday, says Brews Brothers acknowledges it violated the copyrights for the songs.

For more:  http://psdispatch.com/news/333542/Bar-settles-copyright-infringement-lawsuit

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by | March 9, 2013 · 8:19 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Idaho Restaurant Chain Sued By Male Employee Who Claims “Only Women Allowed To Work As Bartenders”

“…lawsuit claims that service manager (stated) that the Louisville,Ky.-based chain’s regional director “only wanted girls working in the bar.” The complaint (states that restaurant) told women employees to wear tank EEOCtops and shorts to work and to “flirt with every guy that sits at the bar top…”

A former employee of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Ammon alleges only women can work as bartenders there, according to a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court of Idaho. Tim Fenton was employed at the restaurant as a trainer, bartender and server before his dismissal in October 2012.Fenton lost out on bartending assignments and Baird allegedly promoted a woman to tend bar that he had a crush on.

Baird also demoted Fenton from his position as a trainer allegedly in retaliation for his and his wife’s reports to Texas Roadhouse about the discrimination. Sam Angell, Fenton’s attorney, said his client made a formal complaint to the chain’s human resources department, but did not receive a report back regarding an investigation of the charges or its findings.

According to the Texas Roadhouse in Ammon, Baird is no longer employed at the restaurant. A representative for Texas Roadhouse corporate headquarters said he hadn’t seen the lawsuit so could not comment.

In order to pursue a job discrimination lawsuit in federal court, plaintiffs must first file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. According to Angell, the EEOC determined it would not be able to complete its investigation in the required 180 days so it issued a “Notice of Right to Sue.”

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by | March 7, 2013 · 7:18 am

Hospitality Industry Payment Risks: Hotel Tech Trade Association Releases “Secure Payments Framework For Hospitality”; Best Practices Advocates “Tokenization” And “Removal Of All Guest Credit Card Data From Systems”

Hospitality Industry Secure Payment Framework-page-001

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Hospitality Industry Secure Payment Framework Executive Summary-page-001

For more:  http://www.scmagazine.com/hotel-tech-trade-association-offers-best-practices-for-reducing-payment-card-risk/article/283129/

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by | March 6, 2013 · 6:57 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Restaurant Fire Starts In “Wood Pile Near Outdoor Smoker”; Spreads To Roof And “Guts Interior”

“…it appears that (the fire) started in a wood pile near a smoker that was attached to the main building…the Restaurant Firerestaurant’s walls were left standing, but the interior was gutted…”

An early-morning fire today that burned down Bandana’s, a popular barbecue restaurant in Crystal City, apparently started in a pile of wood near an outdoor smoker, the fire chief says. Crystal City Fire Chief Tony Bova said the state fire marshal’s office is investigating this morning’s two-alarm blaze, but he said early indications are that the fire was accidental.

No one was injured in the fire, which was reported at about 3 a.m. today at the restaurant on South Truman Boulevard. A passerby saw what appeared to be a trash bin on fire. It turned out to be the outdoor smoker. When the first crews arrived, they saw flames already shooting through the roof.

About 75 firefighters from seven fire departments fought the fire. It took them about an hour to bring the fire under control.

The pile of wood where the fire originated could have been smoldering for hours after the restaurant closed Tuesday night, the chief said.

For more:  http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/fire-destroys-crystal-city-barbecue-restaurant/article_c8df0871-d275-508c-ac51-47e0e3d049e1.html

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by | March 4, 2013 · 7:17 am

Hospitality Industry Insurance Risks: “Slip And Fall Accidents” And “Cooking Fires” Represent Top Operational Risks For Restaurant Owners

“…more than 3 million foodservice employees are injured each year from slip-and-fall accidents. With an average cost of almost $21,000 per claim, this is a substantial risk when you consider the number of guests slip_and_fall accidentwho also fall each year in a foodservice establishment…”

Cintas Corporation, a nationwide leader in restaurant facility solutions, identified the top 13 hidden risks to restaurant operations in 2013. By identifying potential risks before they become a problem, restaurant owners and managers can reduce their exposure and maximize their bottom line by ensuring the proper programs are in place.

  • Slip and falls: According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), more than 3 million foodservice employees are injured each year from slip-and-fall accidents. With an average cost of almost $21,000 per claim, this is a substantial risk when you consider the number of guests who also fall each year in a foodservice establishment. Protect floors, workers, and patrons with a comprehensive safe-floor program that includes deep cleaning, protection, and ongoing maintenance.
  • Cooking fires: By knowing that the majority of restaurant fires occur around 10 a.m., restaurant operators can develop a fire protection system that prevents or limits the spread of cooking fires. Ensure that hood suppression systems are regularly inspected by a licensed fire protection provider so they are always in working order and ready to extinguish a fire. Also, have your kitchen hood and exhaust ducts cleaned of excess grease and fuel at regular intervals.

For more:  http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/cintas-reveals-top-13-hidden-restaurant-risks?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+QSRmagazine+%28QSR+magazine%29

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by | March 3, 2013 · 7:40 am

Hospitality Industry Payment Risks: Restaurants Can Utilize New “Smartphone Apps” To Reduce Credit Card Fraud, Increase Guest Satisfaction

“Tabbedout” is a new free app for smartphones. The credit card number is encrypted in the phone and tied to a tab…(the guest) can walk in, open (their) tab and show the phone to TabbedOut Merchant Payment Smartphone Applicationthe bartender (or waiter) and literally start ordering food and beer right away…when they feel like leaving the venue, press one button on (the) smartphone and leave…”

Crooks are constantly stealing credit card numbers. Often times it’s skimmers attached to credit card machines or some other crafty way to lift information. Now a new app may help reduce the chances of that and simplify the dining out experience.

Denver is a test market for a new service that makes paying a tab in a restaurant or a bar as simple as just one quick click. It’s a legal way of “dining and dashing.”

Who hasn’t been frustrated while waiting to pay a tab? And how safe is sending a credit card off with a waitperson? Now there are options. “Credit card fraud is the handing the cards back and forth. Someone will snap a picture of it and then steal your identity or take your credit card,” bartender Josh Finocchiaro said. “With this, it’s set up through your phone, so the card isn’t passed back and forth.”

Restaurants like the Ice House in LoDo like it because it means the wait staff can focus on serving good food and drinks without worrying about serving up a check at the end of a meal. Diners gain more control over their experience and there’s no waiting around to pay.

Tabbedout is now in 25 restaurants around Denver and some in the mountains as well.

For more:  http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/03/02/tabbedout-app-helps-pay-restaurant-bill-avoid-credit-theft/

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by | March 1, 2013 · 7:12 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Oregon Restaurant Chain Sued For “Forcing Minimum-Wage Employees To Cover Shortages In Cash Register”

“…Employees were required to pay kickbacks regardless of the reason for the shortage, regardless of fault and regardless of the impact of the kickback on the employee’s earnings over the pay period…those employees Hospitality Industry Wage Violation Lawsuitswere not granted any corresponding credits when the cash register had surplus funds…”

A Portland attorney is suing the state’s largest lottery retailer, alleging that it routinely violated Oregon’s minimum wage law.

Attorney Paul Breed claims that Oregon Restaurant Services Inc., which owns the lucrative Dotty’s deli chain, illegally forced minimum-wage employees to pay “kickbacks” to cover shortages in the cash register at the end of their shifts.

Under state law, tips don’t count toward the minimum wage. In fact, the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association has long lobbied the Legislature to allow “tip credit,” so tips could count toward the minimum wage, $8.95 an hour.

No Oregon employers are allowed to deduct money from workers’ wages to cover shortfalls in the till, no matter how much they earn, says Christie Hammond, deputy director of the state labor bureau, known as BOLI. Employers may ask workers to make payments to defray the costs of shortfalls only if they earn more than minimum wage, or the cost wouldn’t cause their wages to fall below minimum wage, Hammond says.

So what are restaurants and other retailers to do when they want to hold employees accountable for missing money in the cash register at the end of the day? Employers have other legal recourse if they think an employee is stealing from them or otherwise losing money, Hammond says. “But they shouldn’t be the judge and jury to decide if the employee is guilty of the shortage.”

For more:  http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Lawsuit-slams-Dottys-kickback/LroqQJeb4EaClTE2VdLNaA.cspx

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by | February 28, 2013 · 7:43 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: New York Restaurant And Nightclub Sued By Employee For “Significant Hearing Loss”; Music Volume At 96 Decibels

“…(the club) began offering its employees earplugs and hearing tests…it was then that she discovered her hearing loss. Initially, she said, one of the club’s executives said she could probably work at the door, but she Hospitality Industry Injury Lawsuitswas later told that would not happen. She was also charged retroactively, she said, for additional tests and treatment related to her hearing damage…”

Alexis Clemente knew the music was extraordinarily loud at Lavo, the celebrity playpen in Midtown Manhattan where she worked for two years as a hostess. Ms. Clemente had significant hearing loss in her right ear, most likely caused by noise exposure, an audiologist found. She was told to immediately stop working in loud environments to prevent it from getting worse.

After the test, she told her supervisors about the results, she said, and asked to be placed at the door, slightly removed from the din. But her employers refused, she said, failed to offer her another position, fired her and canceled her health insurance.

This week, she sued. The suit, filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, was reported this week by The New York Post.

She often complained about the noise, she said, but her employers did not take action until last summer, after The Times recorded and reported volumes averaging 96 decibels, akin to a power mower, in Lavo’s restaurant. Legally, workers should not be exposed to that volume for over three and a half hours without ear protection. And Lavo employees said the volumes at the downstairs club were far worse.

For more:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/nyregion/ex-hostess-at-lavo-sues-claiming-loud-music-damaged-her-hearing.html?_r=0

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by | February 27, 2013 · 7:34 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Hawaii Restaurant Fire Caused By Leak From “Corroded Gas Line Fitting”; $25,000 In Fire And Water Damage

“…the fire was started by a gas leak at a fitting to a kitchen table, which had corroded, said Fire Captain Terry Restaurant FireSeelig, department spokesman…a worker, who was cleaning the kitchen after the restaurant had closed, was treated at the scene for burns to the front of his body before being taken to a burn center…”

A 43-year-old man was taken to the hospital in serious condition Monday after he was burned while cleaning the kitchen of a ramen restaurant in the Mililani Town Center. The flash fire was ignited by a pilot light, which also activated the restaurant’s sprinkler system. The fire was brought under control by 10:30 p.m.

The fire and the water from the sprinkler system caused $25,000 worth of damage in the kitchen of New Genki Ramen at 95-1249 Meheula Parkway.

For more:  http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/193327801.html

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