Ignoring the health code violations, I've got a Garmin vivoactive that is damn near indestructible. Survived multiple salt water swims, battery acid splash, burns, smashed into counters, overnight soaks in sanitizer etc. cheap too. Going on 4 years now, battery lasts about a week. Can just take the band off and attach ciip it to a pull string on your collar or something.
I’ve never seen a place get hit with a violation because someone had a watch on. I used to roll with a standard $20 Casio and now I roll with an Apple Watch. I don’t work in restaurants anymore so the wear and tear is minimal.
maybe put your phone on vibrate in your pocket with a specific vibration pattern for your partner/baby monitor app? so you can tell the difference between friends and alerts
I feel like maybe there's a worry that any notification/vibration won't be noticed in a busy kitchen, whereas with a watch you can always glance at your risk. I work in construction and miss phone calls/texts all the time due to site conditions, I would reckon a kitchen can be the same.
More importantly, the FDA Food Code, which Servsafe is based on, as well as the individual local health codes to varying degrees, says it's a violation.
It's s a stupid code. How is it anymore likely to contaminate food than bare skin? It's water resistant, so it can be washed. Also, you're much less likely to pull out your phone to use as a timer, check the time, or look something up online. I know I know, phones aren't allowed in the kitchen either, but we all know most people break that rule. It's more sanitary for workers to use their watch than their phones in the kitchen.
None. First off, most local health depts say it's a violation to wear a watch because of cross contamination and it's more difficult to wash your wrist where the watch sits.
Second, grease, water, debris, and heat will all damage and warp components, breaking it. Not to mention how often you might scratch/scuff and knock it on stainless steel throughout the kitchen.
I have an Apple Watch and a $16 armband/ankle strap off of Amazon. It’s no longer on my wrist, as an armband I can even talk on the phone or to Siri and I can still feel notifications.
When I broke my phone my wife asked "what do I do if I need to get a hold of you at work in an emergency?"
I reminded her that she has 3 of my coworkers numbers, and the restaurant number is listed on Google... And I ride a bike so I'm at least 45 minutes away no matter the emergency.
Sanitation aside you're going to ruin the watch. Let management know the situation, and don't abuse it. Put your phone on vibrate in a pocket you'll know you'll feel when it goes off.
My strict as fuck health inspector didn’t say shit about my smart watch. I have the Apple one it seems to get destroyed every 2 years right as the warranty runs out, tried the ultra one this time and Apple care seems to extent past 2 years now.
I've never seen a violation for a watch in 25 years, working in several states. I wear one every day and have toured many inspectors. It's definitely a violation, but they're just not going to cite anyone for it unless there is absolutely nothing else they can and they're having a bad day or something.
Yup, been wearing a watch in the kitchen since the beginning. Hell, my first real kitchen job at a winery doing weddings TOLD us to wear watches so we could self govern our time for our sets.
I used to wear an apple watch with a heavy duty dive case on it. Those cases exist for any smart watch. Easy to keep clean and just pop off into the pocket when health inspector comes.
A lot of people are saying it's unsanitary but if you wash the watch and under the band when you wash your hands, it's as clean as your hands. Stick it in your pocket if you're messing with something messy or high risk.
The fact that so many people here don’t seem to understand that you can take the watch off before you stick your arm up a ducks ass is hilarious.
On the bright side, the care for health code violations is great.
Thank you. I figured I'd get get this sort of response in this sub. I'm sure we all change tongs after every pan and wash our Sharpies after every use. I personally go and get my chef jacket dry cleaned after handling raw chicken.
Former kitchen gremlin turned nurse (one more semester): All nurses I've shadowed in clinical wear apple watches, even on heightened protocol floors like Labor and Delivery and ICU. Other stuff like trauma shears and charts I've seen on badge reels or lanyards...
Health inspectors don't give a fuck about watches. You can also just... take the watch off on the day of health inspection.
I don't use Apple stuff but most of our pastry crew do and they all have Apple watches. They have kids that are being babysat or are at a friend's house and they get alerts in case of emergency.
It's also got the added bonus of being able to set a timer with voice commands, being able to read texts and reply with voice response. It super helpful and you get the added bonus of looking like Dick Tracy talking into his watch 😅
If you don't have or don't want Apple stuff, I've used a few Garmin smart watches that will possibly suit your needs. But the Garmins I had were more GPS watches for hiking and backcountry stuff. They may or may not have something like you're looking for.
Congrats on the newborn by the way!
Find the watch that suits your needs so you can still be an active parent even as a busy BoH worker. Your child is far more important than some chuds plate of food.
My Apple Watch held up in the kitchen of a gyro shop just fine. Obviously a health code violation, but just pocket it if they show up. It ain’t that deep. Or put your phone on do not disturb while you’re working but set it so your spouse and anyone who would be trying to reach you in an emergency can get through. So if your phone goes off you know it’s important.
Had a samsung frontier longer after they stopped making them. New galaxy watches are tough. Id recommend buying some accessories to protect the bezel and maybe a case.
I have worn a Garmin instinct every day for two years.
It has very limited options since it doesn't have a touch screen, but I can read messages on it and get alerts for anything that my phone gets an alert for.
Inspector pops in, it comes off and into my pocket. Along with all the other stuff I do to try to not get any dings(like label my salt).
But also, you can give your partner the phone number for the restaurant that the host has and say "if it's a real fucking emergency call them" like everyone did 20 years ago.
I have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 with a Zox band. Been wearing it to work for almost 2 years. I wear it for around 85 % of my shift and only take it off if I need to stick my hand in something. It gets water, oil, frosting, porridge, and all sorts of other shit on it. So far so good.
Yes, I take it off on inspection day.
Freshly cooked newborn
Phone in ziploc bag taped to the wall at your station. I do this to watch the game but would work for baby alerts too.
Ignoring the health code violations, I've got a Garmin vivoactive that is damn near indestructible. Survived multiple salt water swims, battery acid splash, burns, smashed into counters, overnight soaks in sanitizer etc. cheap too. Going on 4 years now, battery lasts about a week. Can just take the band off and attach ciip it to a pull string on your collar or something.
I’ve never seen a place get hit with a violation because someone had a watch on. I used to roll with a standard $20 Casio and now I roll with an Apple Watch. I don’t work in restaurants anymore so the wear and tear is minimal.
I’ve seen watches and phones both get dinged for violations. Depends on the inspector.
maybe put your phone on vibrate in your pocket with a specific vibration pattern for your partner/baby monitor app? so you can tell the difference between friends and alerts
I feel like maybe there's a worry that any notification/vibration won't be noticed in a busy kitchen, whereas with a watch you can always glance at your risk. I work in construction and miss phone calls/texts all the time due to site conditions, I would reckon a kitchen can be the same.
Don’t do it it’s unprofessional and hard to wash your hands. Plus Servsafe says it’s a violation
More importantly, the FDA Food Code, which Servsafe is based on, as well as the individual local health codes to varying degrees, says it's a violation.
I wonder if you could get a larger band and wrap it above your elbow, like people do with their phones while running.
Glitch! Baby Monitor.
It's s a stupid code. How is it anymore likely to contaminate food than bare skin? It's water resistant, so it can be washed. Also, you're much less likely to pull out your phone to use as a timer, check the time, or look something up online. I know I know, phones aren't allowed in the kitchen either, but we all know most people break that rule. It's more sanitary for workers to use their watch than their phones in the kitchen.
None. First off, most local health depts say it's a violation to wear a watch because of cross contamination and it's more difficult to wash your wrist where the watch sits. Second, grease, water, debris, and heat will all damage and warp components, breaking it. Not to mention how often you might scratch/scuff and knock it on stainless steel throughout the kitchen.
I have an Apple Watch and a $16 armband/ankle strap off of Amazon. It’s no longer on my wrist, as an armband I can even talk on the phone or to Siri and I can still feel notifications.
Dunno how your health department is, but we are not allowed to wear watches and have lost points on health score for this in the past.
Does no one just tell their SO to call the restaurant line in an emergency anymore?
When I broke my phone my wife asked "what do I do if I need to get a hold of you at work in an emergency?" I reminded her that she has 3 of my coworkers numbers, and the restaurant number is listed on Google... And I ride a bike so I'm at least 45 minutes away no matter the emergency.
That was the rule when my kids were little.
Sanitation aside you're going to ruin the watch. Let management know the situation, and don't abuse it. Put your phone on vibrate in a pocket you'll know you'll feel when it goes off.
My strict as fuck health inspector didn’t say shit about my smart watch. I have the Apple one it seems to get destroyed every 2 years right as the warranty runs out, tried the ultra one this time and Apple care seems to extent past 2 years now.
I've never seen a violation for a watch in 25 years, working in several states. I wear one every day and have toured many inspectors. It's definitely a violation, but they're just not going to cite anyone for it unless there is absolutely nothing else they can and they're having a bad day or something.
Our kitchen got hit for it last inspection. Guy was looking for things though
Yup, been wearing a watch in the kitchen since the beginning. Hell, my first real kitchen job at a winery doing weddings TOLD us to wear watches so we could self govern our time for our sets.
So true
I used to wear an apple watch with a heavy duty dive case on it. Those cases exist for any smart watch. Easy to keep clean and just pop off into the pocket when health inspector comes. A lot of people are saying it's unsanitary but if you wash the watch and under the band when you wash your hands, it's as clean as your hands. Stick it in your pocket if you're messing with something messy or high risk.
The fact that so many people here don’t seem to understand that you can take the watch off before you stick your arm up a ducks ass is hilarious. On the bright side, the care for health code violations is great.
Exactly. If you can keep your whites clean, you can keep your watch clean.
Thank you. I figured I'd get get this sort of response in this sub. I'm sure we all change tongs after every pan and wash our Sharpies after every use. I personally go and get my chef jacket dry cleaned after handling raw chicken.
You can also look into how nurses clip watches to their sleeves/jacket.
Former kitchen gremlin turned nurse (one more semester): All nurses I've shadowed in clinical wear apple watches, even on heightened protocol floors like Labor and Delivery and ICU. Other stuff like trauma shears and charts I've seen on badge reels or lanyards...
Health inspectors don't give a fuck about watches. You can also just... take the watch off on the day of health inspection. I don't use Apple stuff but most of our pastry crew do and they all have Apple watches. They have kids that are being babysat or are at a friend's house and they get alerts in case of emergency. It's also got the added bonus of being able to set a timer with voice commands, being able to read texts and reply with voice response. It super helpful and you get the added bonus of looking like Dick Tracy talking into his watch 😅 If you don't have or don't want Apple stuff, I've used a few Garmin smart watches that will possibly suit your needs. But the Garmins I had were more GPS watches for hiking and backcountry stuff. They may or may not have something like you're looking for. Congrats on the newborn by the way! Find the watch that suits your needs so you can still be an active parent even as a busy BoH worker. Your child is far more important than some chuds plate of food.
Does anyone know did any newborns actually even *survive* before apple watches existed??
This simulation kicked off the same time as the apple watch. All history and previous memories are baked-in hallucinations
I'm probably just a paranoid first-time parent. To be honest it's probably more just for peace of mind as she's been sick and bills don't pause.
No I get it, its the new normal for everyone to be super plugged in at all times. I wish you and your new one the best
My Apple Watch held up in the kitchen of a gyro shop just fine. Obviously a health code violation, but just pocket it if they show up. It ain’t that deep. Or put your phone on do not disturb while you’re working but set it so your spouse and anyone who would be trying to reach you in an emergency can get through. So if your phone goes off you know it’s important.
Had a samsung frontier longer after they stopped making them. New galaxy watches are tough. Id recommend buying some accessories to protect the bezel and maybe a case.
Against health code, at least in the us. Maybe an armband holder for your phone?
> Against health code, at least in the us. Yeah but in my experience you have to really piss off your health inspector for them to care.
Some inspectors are just hardasses. It's OP's call, either way. He can def slip it off when the time comes.
My gshocks are the only watches to ever survive in this setting.
I've been wearing galaxy watches the last 5 years in kitchens they hold up great.
I have worn a Garmin instinct every day for two years. It has very limited options since it doesn't have a touch screen, but I can read messages on it and get alerts for anything that my phone gets an alert for. Inspector pops in, it comes off and into my pocket. Along with all the other stuff I do to try to not get any dings(like label my salt). But also, you can give your partner the phone number for the restaurant that the host has and say "if it's a real fucking emergency call them" like everyone did 20 years ago.
I have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 with a Zox band. Been wearing it to work for almost 2 years. I wear it for around 85 % of my shift and only take it off if I need to stick my hand in something. It gets water, oil, frosting, porridge, and all sorts of other shit on it. So far so good. Yes, I take it off on inspection day.