The Importance of Workplace Training Regulations in California
By Space Coast Daily // May 31, 2022
Proper job training is essential for a wide range of reasons, beginning with safety and ending with general operational benefits. Without adequate training, negligence can occur, and people can get hurt as a result – especially within the food and beverage industry.
For establishments that offer food and beverage services, improper training can lead to customer dissatisfaction on one end, and in more extreme cases, can lead to contamination, causing food poisoning and other serious illnesses. In fact, in 2018, two people died in California because of eating contaminated food.
Consider the importance of adequate workplace training in the food and beverage space, and the regulation of this training.
Incoming Mandate
The most recent regulation to impact food and beverage establishments in California comes from Assembly Bill 1221 that will mandate Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training for employees of all establishments that participate in the sale and service of alcoholic beverages to customers.
This mandate comes into effect July 1st, 2022, and will be enforced by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). After this date, if any establishment or staff participating in the sale and service of alcoholic beverages is without RBS certification in California, a fine or closure may be issued.
Alcohol servers and managers will be required to receive RBS training and provide evidence of training certification. Bill 1221 seeks to mitigate the risk of customer harm by setting an industry standard for the necessary receival of proper employee training.
Governing Bodies
There are governing bodies in California that have authority over the operations of restaurants and bars to ensure they are servicing customers legally and ethically. The Food and Drug branch of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, are two overarching organizations that hold restaurants in the state accountable.
While these governing bodies provide frameworks that outline how restaurants should be training their employees to ensure the proper handling of customer orders, it remains up to individual establishments to enforce proper training.
Fortunately, organizations like the CDPH and ABC that protect the well-being of customers are establishing mandates, requiring that restaurants ensure their employees receive proper training. These regulations are holding establishments and staff accountable, while also giving governing bodies the opportunity to step in and ensure establishments have the right education and resources to safely and securely provide food and beverage service.
By putting regulations in place, governments are ensuring that establishments receive the necessary training to operate safely and responsibly.
