Rink

46 / MAY.JUNE.2023 USICERINKS.COM 46 / MAY.JUNE.2023 USICERINKS.COM Set Expectations You expect a lot of yourself and of your rink; the same high standards should be placed on your employees, too. It boils down to three main points of emphasis: 1. CLEANLINESS: Do your employ- ees want to work in a facility that's known for its dirty glass and unsanitary bathrooms? If your employees aren't doing their job, or simply picking up after customers and themselves, it's likely that people are leaving the facil- ity with that exact impression. Remind them that they work and represent the rink, too. A clean rink is just as much a reflection on them and their work ethic as it is on the arena itself. Is there some down time between the next resurface? Tell them to look for little things that they can quickly wipe down or sweep up. Let them know that you expect them to help keep the arena a safe and clean place that will make customers comfortable every visit. 2. TAKE THE INITIATIVE: Put the responsibility of "finding something to do" back to your employees. Let them know you expect them to be capable enough of step- ping up and completing new tasks without even being asked. Is there a light bulb out in the party room? What's stopping them from simply grabbing a new one and changing it? Remind them to be attentive and take steps to rectify situations as they come up—they should be kept plenty busy then. 3. HARD WORK: You work hard, so it's not ridiculous to expect the same from people that you've hired to help run the facility. Remind them that you expect everyone to work hard from the start of work until the end. Put the Responsibility Back on the Employee Ultimately what an employee makes of the job is up to him or her. Maybe working at the rink is simply something to keep mom and dad off their back, or maybe they have an interest in hockey or figure skating. Maybe they even want to manage their own arena someday. Whatever it may be, stress to your employees that what they put in to a job—at the rink or otherwise—they are bound to get out. If an employee comes in each day preparing for a day of boredom, that's what they're going to get. But if they come in, ready and eager to work, you can guarantee they won't be saying, "There's nothing to do." Give them the tools and structure to stay busy and productive. It might just make their overall attitude toward any future job improve, too. J If an employee comes in each day, preparing for a day of boredom, that's what they're going to get. But if they come in, ready and eager to work, you can guarantee they won't be saying, "There's nothing to do." 5-MINUTE DUTIES • Check/change restroom garbage • Clean public restroom mirrors • Clean restroom sinks • Take out office and concession garbage • Vacuum main office and skate room • Clean lobby entrance door glass • Take out broken down cardboard boxes • Organize front brochure area • Take garbage out of coach's office and manager's office 10-MINUTE DUTIES • Check/change lobby garbage bins • Clean stainless steel in public restrooms (garbage cans, hand rails, toilet paper dispensers) • Clean drinking fountains • Clean corner rink glass • Spot sweep/clean bleachers • Sweep under bleachers • Shop-vac edges in lobby • Clean office glass • Sweep player boxes • Sweep scorer's box and penalty box area • Stock paper products in public restrooms, locker rooms and officials room • Clean sinks and mirrors in locker room • Shovel front entrance • Shovel emergency exits • Salt ice on front sidewalks • Take mats out of front foyer and dump out dirt • Straighten out skate rental/repair skates as needed • Sweep and mop coach's office 15-MINUTE DUTIES • Push-sweep rubber flooring • Spot-mop bleachers • Shop-vac edges in arena under bleachers • Shop-vac board channels around arena • Clean mirrors and sink in locker rooms • Clean marks off walls in arena area • Sweep locker rooms • Mop edges in locker rooms

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