Time and time again, we have witnessed large restaurant chains suffer from lawsuits filed by individuals or other competing companies. Some of the most well known lawsuits were filed against McDonald’s and Wendy’s, who both either offered compensation or settled out of court. Perhaps the risk of liability has crossed your mind as a restauranteur. According to Kinney Fernandez & Boire, a well-known legal practice in Florida, there are several common reasons why restaurants get sued:
- Poor food quality – quality standards should be top-notch when it comes to restaurants. Any evidence that shows unhygienic food preparation practices or lack of sanitation in the dining area or kitchen can cause employees or customers to file (and win) a lawsuit.
- Copyright claims – some smaller restaurants may try to copy ideas from larger companies to appeal to more customers. However, these marketing tactics often lead to conflicts and lawsuits once the larger restaurant finds out about the imitation scheme.
- Internal issues – some problems can erupt within the structure of the business such as failing to pay employees, improper termination of workers, and other organizational problems that could cause individuals to file a lawsuit.
How can restaurant owners protect themselves from these risks? According to Kinney Fernandez & Boire, there are several ways to help restaurants avoid potential lawsuits.
What Are Some Ways To Protect Your Restaurant From A Lawsuit?
- Maintain consistent quality in your food preparation
Restaurants are known for their food. When food quality is top priority, you can be assured that a lot of customers will be eventual patrons of your restaurant. One of the worst ways to ruin the reputation of your business is being negligent of your food’s quality. As much as possible, you need to create a streamlined process where your suppliers provide consistent quality food, handling guidelines should be followed at all times, and food should be served presentably to your customers. Many restaurant lawsuits are the result of customers complaining about finding a piece of an unsightly object in their food. You need to prioritize proper sanitation–even if you don’t end up having a lawsuit filed against you, your restaurant may suffer from bad reviews.
- Treat all employees with respect and reward them for their efforts
Not only do you need to be responsible for customer service, you also need to treat all your workers with respect. This means providing compensation for their services at the right time, paying appropriate wages, and avoiding tip pooling. In most states, tips are supposed to be kept by servers. Disrupting any of these systems might bring you trouble, and may even cause employees to leave your restaurant, or worse, file a lawsuit against you. Additionally, it is important for any business owner to make their employees feel valued for their work. Make sure to set aside incentives for your best-performing workers to keep them happy. You should also be caring for your employee’s welfare. An employee who is hurt as a result of negligent practices may file a lawsuit against you. For example, an employee injured on the job site in Tampa may seek a slip and fall attorney Tampa who will represent their interests. Avoid this by maintaining your facilities for your employees.
- Avoid copying bigger restaurants as a marketing tactic
This is a rookie mistake that some small restaurants make. Some diners would tend to copy the interiors, logo, or even the menu of another restaurant. The problem with these copycat businesses is that sooner or later the popular restaurant finds out–and this brings in all the trouble. Start by being original and creative. Avoid allusions and putting others’ property as a reference for yours.
- Hire an attorney to help your company with financial and internal issues
If you have no other choice but to face a lawsuit filed against your company, you may need to seek professional help. Kinney Fernandez & Boire, reputable car accident attorneys in Tampa, suggests looking for a qualified legal team in your area to help you gather sufficient evidence and build up the case in your favor. Additionally, attorneys can also help you file the right taxes, present ideas on how to protect your restaurant against future complaints and lawsuits, and establish pointers to help you avoid internal disputes in your business.
Starting a business is tough, and you can expect it to be tougher as you start to expand. Owning a restaurant is definitely a challenging but a rewarding feat. By following these simple guidelines, you can have a higher chance of keeping your customers and employees happy and avoid the consequences of lawsuits filed against your business.
