Safety shoes- these shoes are designed to follow health codes and prevent slipping in the work place. Smock- The smock is worn to avoid the products from touching your clothes. This prevents contamination of the products. Hair net- Unless you are bald, you should always wear a hair net while working. This prevents hair from coming into contact with products.
Read labels. Try to remember which products have low salt, are gluten free, and have the least amount of preservatives. Customers tend to ask these questions, so be prepared. Try the products yourself. The best way to gain knowledge on a product is for you to try it yourself. Always ask a manager before taking a sample of anything. Ask co-workers/managers about different products. Having different opinions on products can take away your bias on something. Talk to your customers about their opinion. By asking customers their reaction to different products, you can share their opinions with other customers.
When taking care of a customer, always ask how they prefer their product sliced. Most customers will tell you thin, thick, or in the middle. Occasionally you will be asked to chip (shred into a fine dust-like form) meat. This involves opening the slicer to its smallest opening and shredding the meat. Ask the customer if the first slice looks good. By showing your customer the first slice they will be able to judge if you are preparing their food correctly. Offer the customer the first slice as a sample. This way the customer can make sure they definitely like the product before buying it. Ask what else you can get for them. Never assume that the customer is done with ordering. After slicing each product, ask what else you can get for them. Once they tell you they are done, make sure to thank them for shopping and ask them to come again.
Between customers, make sure that your slicers are clean. To clean a slicer, use a clean cloth and a Food and Drug Administration approved disinfectant. You also need to make sure that your gloves are clean. If you handle a messy meat (such as roast beef or Virginia ham) make sure to change your gloves. Remember to wash your hands in between changing gloves. When you have a break between customers, sweep the floor, disinfect counter tops, and straighten up so that your workplace is appealing to the eye and follows all health codes.
