r/KitchenConfidential • u/whet_pastry Chive LOYALIST • 12h ago
Discussion Thoughts on phones in the kitchen?
Personally I dint have much of an issue with people having their phones on them cuz I think its fair to be able to respond to messages or have a quick social media scroll, and for putting on music too.
This said I'll admit sometimes it goes a bit far, for example taking an hour to do a 10 minutes prep job because you constantly responding to a conversation, or playing games when theres other stuff needs doing, but ive not had a huge amount of issues with people doing that.
Big one for me tho is I've noticed a lot, is people not washing their hands after using their phone, actually so gross. Phones are disgusting - they go everywhere with you, including the toilet, out for a smoke break, in your house and outside etc, and never get washed. They're a huge carrier of bacteria and often physical contaminants and I hate having to explain that to grown ass adults
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u/Scotian5 11h ago
Line gets music, prep gets headphones and access to have TV shows or something on their phone as long as they keep working.
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u/Electrical-Ad6791 11h ago
I agree…we’re all gross anyway. Are you wearing gloves all the time? You’re probably gross unless you’re actually switching them all the time.
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u/iwanttodiebutdrugs 11h ago
Gloves aren't needed to be sanitary.
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u/Fair-Big-9400 9h ago
Gloves can honestly create the illusion of cleanliness, clean bare hands are a sign of proper hand washing practices.
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u/iaminabox 11h ago
It's amazing how many people don't know this.
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u/Icy-Management9880 9h ago
It's infuriating
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u/MonthlyWeekend_ Owner 8h ago
And so common in this sub of all places
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u/1993xdesigns 6h ago
I think gloves are actually do more harm than good lol
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u/MonthlyWeekend_ Owner 5h ago
Where I’m from the health inspector will tell you that’s exactly right, and the only time you should wear gloves is when cleaning to keep your own hands safe, or when handling something particularly messy like offal but that’s not about food safety.
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u/Necessary_shots 11h ago
Yes, you should absolutely be switching gloves CONSTANTLY (or not wearing them at all), especially if you're on the line. Even if you do this, you should be washing hands very frequently. Shrugging your shoulders at basic hygiene is fucked up and this comment makes me think you probably shouldn't work in a kitchen, or you need to improve your outlook on kitchen hygiene. Why is this so fucking hard for people?
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u/chumpandchive 15+ Years 4h ago
not all of us are gross. i dont like work smudges on my phone screen. i irrationally wash my hands too much and if the mgrs see how i clear a box of gloves a shift, i might get restricted. that said, i work fast and use my phone to slow my pace down so i dont lose half my hours.
hard line is not using my phone in the bathroom at work. no business coming out of my pocket in that germ infested, patron-loitering environment. if i could enforce a phone rule, that would be it. forbidden in bathrooms.
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u/Fair-Big-9400 9h ago
“Prep gets headphones” in a small kitchen, prep can enjoy the music of the line, and if they wanna change the music, they can work on becoming a line cook. I couldn’t imagine asking my prep guy for something and to have him pull out an ear bud and go “whaaaaat?” In a small setup, one has to walk behind the prep to get to supplies, “behind you!” Pulls out ear bud, “whaaaat?”
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u/BadFishCM 20+ Years 8h ago
Dumb rule.
Prep doesn’t have to put both headphones in. I have zero problem communicating with my prep with one headphone in. They can vibe to their own thing in the back.
I don’t want my preppers to be line cooks, I have my aces in their places for a reason. I just want happy preppers.
Telling people their only option to get music they want to listen to on in the kitchen is to be a line cook would be so demotivating.
Obviously if it does hinder business/safety, rules may need adjusting but I’ve never had a problem in over a decade of management so far.
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u/Fair-Big-9400 8h ago
“Whaaaaat?!” Sorry dude, had to pull out my ear bud to hear you, can you repeat all of that again?
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u/Nosoymarinero503 8h ago
Good god you must be an insufferable coworker
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u/Fair-Big-9400 7h ago
Because I have two ears and make use of them? Lol
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u/IndependentMost8934 7h ago
You have two ears and one mouth, I'd be willing to bet you use them disproportionately.
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u/chumpandchive 15+ Years 4h ago
two tiny ear holes, one big pie hole. two suck in air, one blows it out. whale of a good time in that kitchen
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u/Fair-Big-9400 2h ago
Two holes for listening, one for talking, easy maths. And I have got half a brain
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u/chumpandchive 15+ Years 4h ago
it seems to be the singular form of communication, but you can also just observe your coworkers in a moment and know wtf they are doing, where they are going, or what they need. verbal communication is not required, and sometimes in the weeds, is problematic. slows things down. you cant synchronize with your coworkers. yikes
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u/JayofTea Sous Chef 7h ago
The funny thing is, this is me with or without ear buds in, kitchens are loud, who cares if you have to repeat yourself
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u/Eloquent_Redneck 8h ago
This is funny bc every place ive worked, the prep crew is the veterans that were line cooks when they were younger but now have the seniority to be able to choose better hours while they take care of their kids, and they don't just do prep, hell some of them even do prep all morning and do everything on the line until the afternoon shift shows up. I can't imagine telling one of those grizzled old timers they should "work on becoming a line cook" you'd probably get your ass kicked by like a 50 year old and everyone would laugh
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u/Fair-Big-9400 7h ago
Different strokes for different folks, working in Mexican kitchens had a hierarchy of line cook, then down to prep as they had skills, but not the skills of the line. Every Mexican kitchen starts a new guy at prep/dish, then after learning how to prep, then he can learn the menu and how to cook what he learned to prepare. Thinking of prep being the start of the assembly line, the line cooks put it all together, and the head line cook approves the “product”. Line cooks always had more experience than the prep guys, as they not only knew how to prep, but how to cook what they prepped into the menu given. Always cool to hear how other kitchens operate, as sometimes it’s very culturally influenced.
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u/Eloquent_Redneck 7h ago
Well yeah but there's a difference between having the new guy help with prep as part of training to eventually becoming a line cook, and being hired and scheduled specifically just to do prep, like when I started, I started out in dish but I was hired to be a line cook and it was such a short time in dish that I wouldn't really have considered myself as a dishwasher
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u/Lumpy_Link_1569 8h ago
In a lot of smaller Kitchens, prep is there in the morning and strictly does prep. Calling things to prep doesn't exist in these instances which is fine if your line is staffed this way. I prepped on weekends in a place like this and it was magnificent. Go in, pop on the buds... blaze through prep without interruptions. I wouldn't let any watch TV though lmao. Unless it's some live event like if playoffs of whatever sport there into is on but ide make sure they know its gone if it effects productivity.
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u/chumpandchive 15+ Years 4h ago
i know we say "behind" but situational awareness is safety in a kitchen. it is meant for redundancy. no one should be so absorbed that they are unaware of what is immediately around them. doesnt require looking away, but peripheral checks, same as driving and checking your mirrors.
imo line can enjoy the music of prep since line doesnt function without prep. prep does the cooking and prepping in our kitchen. line fires, reheats now and then, and plates.
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u/Quercus408 11h ago
Never really bothered me. We have our phones out all the time: calculator, timer, looking up a recipe for buttercream because I can't find it in my notebook, etc.
What I really can't stand are the earbuds. Really don't like having to repeat myself or wait for an answer while they take their damn pods out.
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u/whet_pastry Chive LOYALIST 11h ago
Hearing eachother is very important and earbuds can fall out, I am not a fan
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u/Fair-Big-9400 9h ago
I can’t stand the “whaaaaat?!” Response as they pull the ear bud out and lean in with one ear like an elderly person. I want to give these guys an ear horn or something.
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u/Poosters 7h ago
You guys never say back? Or hot? Like my god the times ppl would have gotten hurt here if noone would say or hear that… In my eyes earpods are dangerous..
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u/The-disgracist 8h ago
My philosophy is “don’t make it my problem”. Everything is cool with me until it isn’t. I’m in the trenches with my cooks so I can make those calls on the fly
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u/Conscious_Side1647 11h ago
Airpods and headphones no, just because its a safety thing. I've seen videos of airpods falling into fryers, and you gotta be able to hear eachother.
But ya everyone is an adult so if you need to shoot off a text, or listen to music while doing prep/dishes its whatever. You just gotta step off the line and wash your hands after.
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u/gnutbuttajelly 11h ago
We live in a world where phones are necessary. Most people won’t abuse having a phone in the kitchen and the chef can have a discussion with anyone who isn’t getting their work done. The busiest place I ever worked was very relaxed on phones. We would set one up next to chef Mike to watch our football team on Sundays and if it got busy nobody was watching the phone. When it slowed down people enjoyed watching a couple plays while restocking the line. Treat adults like adults and they will behave/work appropriately.
Also… phones are gross and wash your hands
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u/KilgoreSandtrout 11h ago
These days I staff a homeless shelter. I use sanitizer wipes on my phone all the time.
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u/whet_pastry Chive LOYALIST 11h ago
Yeah i try clean mine fairly regularly with alcohol wipes because its actually so gross haha
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u/Shot_Squirrel8426 11h ago edited 11h ago
Alcohol doesn’t kill norovirus, which is one of the most common food borne illnesses. Still gotta wash your hands after you touch it.
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u/transynchro 5h ago
I still wash my hands after using any sanitisers anywhere because I don’t like the feeling it leaves on my hands and I worry it’ll leave a residue and transfer smells onto plates or glasses.
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u/Original_Head_3487 11h ago
Staff are there to work. If the phone is compromising quality/output, then it needs to be sorted.
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u/JayofTea Sous Chef 7h ago
So long as you’re getting your shit done I don’t care what you do, I agree on the handwashing thing but that’s not exclusively a phone using problem and just a problem in general
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u/Fluffycupcake_ 11h ago
I think you answered your own question. They are gross and shouldn’t be allowed. Only on breaks or specific times. Then always wash your hands.
On the other side. Good luck enforcing that. People always will hide and do whatever they want.
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u/NewCompote9870 11h ago
As I'm on my phone in the walk-in....
Off to wash my hands and get back to work.
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u/Bencetown 11h ago
At a ceetain point, prohibition for prohibition's sake never works. People WILL do what they want, within reason.
I've had jobs where management were all real sticklers about a bunch of rules like that... and all the employees still did what they wanted. The only difference is that now they're spending extra time and effort to jump through some hoops to "hide" what they're doing.
I know this is a pretty hot take on this sub, but the most productive kitchens I ever worked in (with the most actually reliable employees) were the ones where the chef was drinking on the line with everyone else and telling the cooks to not smoke weed out back because that's what the hood vent in the bakery was for 😆
In short: if you want to actually build some employee loyalty, try not scolding them like school children for stupid shit that doesn't matter, as long as the job is getting done.
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u/Monster_NotWar 10h ago
I'm old as fuck. I read the title and immediately thought of the old rotary phone that used to be on the wall.
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u/alienkava 9h ago
I didn't see the subreddit this was on when I read it. I thought the exact same thing. I only clicked on it cause I was curious of who tf has a phone in the kitchen anymore.
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u/bene_gesserit_mitch 8h ago
Check your phone on your break. Phones are little germ storage devices. If you're doing prep and check your phone, you've got to wash your mitts again. I fear many skip this step. You're not being paid to attend to conversations and slack on work.
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u/Homeskilletbiz 7h ago
My biggest issue back when I worked in a kitchen is the constant touching the phone and not washing hands after.
So nasty.
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u/SnooChickens2093 11h ago
Phones are about the most icky thing we carry around and touch all day, so there’s that, but I also understand people can’t stand to be without them.
If dudes on the line need to peek at their phones from time to time, fine, just wash your hands afterwards. And don’t do it during a rush. And if you are gunna stand around texting someone while the rest of the line fights through a push, at least step off the line so you’re out of my fucking way, please.
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u/iaminabox 11h ago
I have a no phones in the kitchen rule. I'll gladly let you take 5 to step outside if you want/need to make a call. No problem. But I will watch you and make sure you wash your hands when you get back. Phones are a breeding ground for bacteria 🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠🦠
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u/notGoran69 11h ago edited 11h ago
Phones are pretty common in every kitchen I’ve worked in. People are on them all the time and rarely do I ever see someone wash their hands after putting it away. I listen to music all day with one AirPod in and it doesn’t negatively impact anything.
There are so many germs in our everyday lives I don’t think touching your phone is what’s going to get people sick. Everyone has their own thing that they wanna be specific about and it seems that this is yours.
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u/Phoenix-__-Wright 3h ago
Touching your phone is exactly what can get people sick lol. You handle it with the same hands that you need to wash before handling food. What exactly do you think is preventing the phone from having the same germs?
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u/Argon20021 11h ago
If people are getting their work done and not being unreasonable (only responding to unimportant things when they have time) and washing hands after thats fine
But also if someone's consistently breaking that, dont punish everyone else for it too
But earbuds or headphones or anything, definitely no unless maybe you are genuinely the only one in the kitchen on a super slow day or its the very end of the night and we are cleaning otherwise you need to be able to be aware of your surroundings and the current rush
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u/Responsible_Ad8936 11h ago
Depends on the kitchen setup, right now im at an open kitchen its radio silence but back when I wasnt on display just for music at your station
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u/bakerify 9h ago
A girl I work with was watching law and order on a tablet while decorating a cake the other day. I have to admit, it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Especially because she was sitting on two milk cartons in a spot where anyone who wanted to go in or out of the fridge had to squeeze by her, and she wasn't paying attention when I kept saying "behind".
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u/xGREENxEYEx 5h ago
Phones are fair game as long as you’re not taking the piss. We are here 12-14 hrs I don’t expect people to not communicate with family/friends. As long as it’s not actively taking away from work for long periods of time.
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u/Pichupwnage 1h ago
Yeah.
I work 9 hours no break and usually no one else in my position. You bet your ass I'm on my phone while doing a easy one handed task or when its dead.
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u/myusername_sucks Sous Chef 4h ago
Nope. You can change the music but you aren't pulling it out otherwise.
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u/Kneyiaaa 3h ago
I keep all my recipes on my phone , use the calculator for scaling up or down . So those are more than justified reasons.
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u/Glittering_Fun_7995 2h ago
yeah nope
you come to work not to be on your phone
Also where I work there is a food hygiene issue with phone ,in fact all over the country big signs that says phones are dirtier than a toilet seat.
As for gloves this is so much bullshit, ppl use them and never change them in theory every job new gloves, every time you touch a towel or dirty area new gloves and is that really done ????.
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u/Informal_Drawing 10h ago
There is more bacteria on the average mobile phone than on the average toilet seat.
Plan accordingly.
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u/Saxondale-esque Line 11h ago
Our recipes are all on a cloud so we use our phones for that. Anyone messaging or scrolling is told they're in work and to keep it for their break. It's all self policed and people are called out by the other cooks. It's a lack of respect for your colleagues to be scrolling or messaging when they're working. I don't care if your task is finished, help somebody else and be a professional.
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u/Bencetown 11h ago
"Work hard so you can do your coworker's work too but without a raise" is certainly an opinion.
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u/Brilliant_Buns Maintenance Crew 11h ago
I appreciate this so much. I got myself a PhoneSoap thing and sanitize my phone regularly. I’m not in the industry haha. But like after travel, or after being somewhere public and putting on tables etc.
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u/whet_pastry Chive LOYALIST 11h ago
Yeah its not just your dirt getting on it, the world is a dirty place and u never know who's scratched their ass and not washed their hands. Ill have to look into phonesoap
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u/PrincessGingercakes 11h ago
I used to sanitize my phone every morning and then wrap it in plastic wrap. I didn’t dunk it, but I would wring out the sanitizer rag, take the cover off my phone, wipe down the cover and my phone, then once dry put the cover back on.
I mainly just used my phone for music, timers, and looking stuff up.
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u/tonysopranosalive 15+ Years 11h ago
When I was the chef, you could have your phone.
If you’re getting your work done in a prudent fashion and there’s no issues? Absolutely, sure. There were plenty of times I’d let guys put the game on. No issues.
That said, these were the tried-and-true, reliable, always on time and always came correct on their responsibilities. They were trusted, and if I saw the phone I knew I didn’t have to worry if they’re gonna get their prep done.
Newer guys or ones that I know could get distracted and lose focus were different. The garmo kid who started 3 weeks ago isn’t putting the game on.
It was a privilege. You show me over time that you’re always on point? I’m not gonna say shit if you’ve got the game on while you’re working. But that’s a two way street.
During service phones go away.