San Francisco’s Strict Vaccine Mandate Including Pressure on Restaurant Staff – NBC Bay Space
Popular San Francisco bars and restaurants say the city’s new mandate to “Prove You Are Vaccinated” could have an added consequence – longer lines to get a table.
The new rules add to the workload of restaurant workers at a time when the entire industry is already grappling with a labor shortage.
Any restaurant along the Embarcadero will attract tourists who may not be familiar with the new vaccination rule.
In the case of restaurants like the Waterbar, the hostess has to act as the vaccine bouncer – she lets in those who have proof of vaccination and locks out those who don’t.
The restaurant manager fears that this could lead to longer waiting times for the guests.
“It’s going to be a bit more demanding for us, we’re already scrambling as it is,” said Pete Sittnick.
From the kitchen staff shaking oysters to the waiters serving wine, you won’t see any waterbar employee standing on a Friday afternoon during rush hour. But from Friday the restaurant has to make sure that everyone who eats inside has their vaccination card.
“We try to find people to work with us. That particular check-in and verification will really add one more, if not a few more people to the process, ”said Sittnick.
One scenario that worries him is dealing with a large group in which only one person is not vaccinated.
“We are nimble; we try to be the best we can. And you know what? We’ll probably piss someone off, ”said Sittnick.
It’s a concern he brought up to Supervisor Matt Haney who happened to be dining outside.
“No restaurant is penalized for letting that one person in, that’s not the intention,” said Haney. “We are not going to ask you to monitor everyone. Give your best.”
For the first time in over a year, the Aragones family traveled from Dublin to San Francisco on Friday to do some sightseeing.
Charissa Aragones welcomes proof of the city’s vaccination mandate. Her 10-year-old daughter is the only family member exempt from the mandate because she is too young to receive the vaccine.
“I was pretty nervous when I came; This will be our first dinner here, so I think I’ll come with my family more often, ”she said.
Retail stores and grocery stores are not subject to proof of mandatory vaccination. If you want to eat outside, you don’t have to show a vaccination card.
