Busser or Bus Boy

What is a Busser or Bus Boy?

Duties

The duties of a busser or bus boy include the following:

• Undertake work responsibilities as stated by your supervisor and the assigned schedule – replacing and cleaning soiled table linens, setting tables with appropriate utensils and glassware, polishing kitchen equipment, etc.
• Interact with guests in a friendly manner as needed, by putting their orders through with kitchen staff, acknowledging any special requests and resetting the tables.
• Maintain an approachable and professional demeanor with guests and patrons to keep them happy and promote a positive image for the establishment.
• Take part in weekly or daily departmental meetings and update supervisor as well as the assigned team on any cleaning and maintenance problems.
• Keep track of the organisation’s internal procedures, safety and hygiene policies, etc.

Day In The Life

A bus boy or busser is constantly on the move, working alongside the server to keep assigned areas clean and presentable. It is up to them to stock work stations with glassware and ice, before the restaurant or catering hours. If it is a buffet setup, you must be detail-oriented and carefully arrange food trays, salad platters, utensils and napkins on the counters from the backroom.

You may end up doing tasks not accounted for as well. If at a hotel, this includes serving guests who requested room service and removing the utensils and tray when their meal is done. Helping the customer is always your focus! Even if you are not the main waiter or server, having a thorough understanding of the menu offerings and other services is important to be able to answer any queries from guests or clients.

Other work includes carefully cleaning tables after guests have left the table, replacing the napkins, silverware and glassware, providing support to all servers and kitchen staff on an ad-hoc basis, restocking any kitchen and storeroom supplies and ensuring the hygiene standards of the establishment are maintained.

Work Schedule

As a busser or bus boy, most jobs allow flexible scheduling, such as working full time or part time in shifts. Some positions require you to work odd hours like 10 pm to 6 pm, on weekends and on holidays. Working within a team, you are responsible for ensuring that guests have a welcoming environment by keeping the dining area clean and free from debris, clearing the tables and placing cutlery. The job requires a lot of physical strength, with prolonged periods of walking and standing, bending and stooping, etc. to ensure that all areas are spotless and garbage is cleared.

Growth Of The Job

The role of a busser or bus boy is a great stepping stone into a culinary career. You can gain enough experience and apply for entry-level work at restaurants or catering services. If you possess a high school diploma or its equivalent, then you can progress quickly to a server or waiter at restaurants and hotels.

Typical Employers

Typical employers of bussers and bus boys are hotel brands, bars, resorts, restaurants and catering gigs, to balance the workload of full-time wait staff. Some examples of employers currently looking for bussers include The Cheesecake Factory, Outback Steakhouse, Tex-Mex Institute, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, TGI Friday’s Inc. and MGM Resorts International.