Challenges Encountered by Fast Food Chain Employees in Dining Services during COVID-19 Pandemic at Zabarte Town Center Caloocan City
Vol.3, No.1B
Abstract
Governments worldwide have restricted fast food chains and restaurants to prevent the virus from spreading. Fast food chains must implement severe new safety procedures to protect their employees and customers. While the COVID-19 pandemic affects all groups, employees are also impacted and suffering due to the outbreak, including fast food employees working at various fast food chains in Zabarte Town Center, Caloocan City. The COVID-19 pandemic brought in lots of new regulations, safety rules, and seat capacity restrictions for dining services. Still, the fast-food industry, in particular, worked hard to keep up with ever-changing regulations, safety guidelines, and occupancy limits. This present research was conducted to determine the challenges encountered by fast food chain employees in dining services during the pandemic that also influence how this industry manages to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study utilized the descriptive method design to determine and describe the challenges encountered by fast-food chain employees in dining services during the pandemic. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, most people are afraid of getting the disease. Yet, many still work because of the family they are supporting, where most respondents are concerned about getting infected by the virus, with a weighted mean of 4.28, and experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, etc., with a weighted mean of 3.85. On the other hand, respondents encountered challenges in terms of health, workplace safety guidelines, work experience, dining restrictions, seat capacity, safety measures, and health and sanitation requirements. The respondents agree that, unlike before, several adjustments happened in the dining service, and anyone could dine at the fast food chain; but, due to the new protocol in place, only a selected few are allowed.
The researchers gathered and collected data on certain fast food employees who are working during the pandemic, including how they keep up with serving customers and keeping themselves and their families safe; how they keep up with all the new restrictions for fast foods, particularly for dining in; how they were affected in their work before and during the pandemic; and whether they are keeping up with all the new requirements they need before they start working.
Based on the gathered data and conclusions drawn, the researchers evaluated and determined the challenges encountered by fast-food chain employees in dining services during the pandemic. This study focused on gathering ways to overcome the challenges the fast food industry faced to help the industry grow. The gathered data will provide critical factors in the commitment to the economic success of the fast food industry amidst the pandemic.
To overcome the challenges, the faculty should utilize modern ways of teaching in this new normal and assist the students in basic learning in their chosen field of expertise in the hospitality industry. This could give motivation to the students, the desire to graduate, awareness of current opportunities, and the drive to pursue their chosen career. Respondents also recommended that the faculty communicate efficiently and effectively with online learners to prepare them for their careers amidst the new normal.
