Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations

The duties of workers in this group may overlap depending on the business.

Food counter attendants and food preparers:

• Take foods orders and serve customers at food counters or buffet tables
• Prepare, heat and finish cooking simple food items
• Accept payments, operate point of sale devices and give change for cash transactions
• Answer customer questions about menu items
• Use a deep fryer, grill, oven, drink dispensers and other equipment to prepare fast food items such as sandwiches, hamburgers, fries, ice cream dishes and milkshakes
• Use equipment to prepare hot beverages such as coffee and tea
• Peel, slice and trim food items using manual and electric appliances
• Stock refrigerators, cupboards and salad bars
• Keep records of quantities of food used
• Prepare food for the next day’s service
• Make sure food is kept at temperatures that meet food safety standards and practices
• Clean kitchen areas and dispose of garbage
• Clear tables, trays and chairs, and clean and reset tables
• May portion, plate and wrap food for service to patrons
• May package take-out food

Kitchen helpers:

• Help prepare or serve food and beverages
• Clear and clean tables and trays
• Clean kitchen areas and equipment, and sweep and mop floors
• Unpack and store supplies in refrigerators freezers and storage areas
• Wash, peel and prepare basic food items
• Bus dishes and perform other duties such as scraping, stacking or washing dishes, carrying linen to and from laundry area and running errands
• Refill condiments and other supplies at tables or in serving areas
• May also separate, remove and clear kitchen garbage
• May also weigh, measure and prepare ingredients for complex dishes, stir and strain soups, and grind meats, poultry and seafood

Food service helpers:

• Clean kitchen areas and equipment
• Clear, clean and set tables
• Bus dishes, clear trays, scrape and stack dishes
• Carry linen to and from laundry area
• Refill condiments and other supplies at tables and in serving areas
• May also weigh, measure and prepare ingredients for complex dishes, stir and strain soups and grind meats, poultry and seafood

Dishwashers:

• Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots and pans either with a dishwasher or by hand
• Sweep and scrub floors, sort and remove garbage and wash garbage cans
• Clear tables, clean kitchen areas and place clean dishes in storage areas
• May also clean and prepare food, and keep kitchen work areas clean and organized
• May load and unload trucks picking up or delivering food and supplies

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.