A bar supervisor is a member of the staff who is in charge of keeping the bar running smoothly and dealing with customer service issues. A bar may have several supervisors who handle different shifts under the supervision of a manager, or a bar supervisor may act as if he or she is the manager, personally handling all issues. The arrangement is usually determined the company’s size.
Bar supervisors are in charge of inventory, ensuring that orders are placed on time and keeping an eye out for signs of spoilage and theft. They may also be involved in personnel decisions such as hiring and firing, as well as staff management. Bar supervisors can write employee schedules, handle vacation requests, arrange coverage when people are sick, provide information about employee benefits, train new employees, and generally keep an eye on the staff for signs of trouble.
The bar supervisor may be involved in menu development, hiring cooking staff and servers, keeping the kitchen inventory stocked, making arrangements for kitchen equipment repairs, and other related activities in a bar that also serves snacks and food. Bar supervisors may also be tasked with providing food safety training to employees and may be required to monitor conditions in the kitchen to ensure that everything is handled properly, according to the law and food safety recommendations.
Dealing with the general public is another aspect of a bar supervisor’s job. People who have questions or complaints usually want to speak with a supervisor, and the bar supervisor may have the authority to deviate from the rules in order to keep customers happy. Bar managers must have a thorough understanding of the bar’s policies, as well as legal and safety issues, in order to respond to customer requests appropriately and quickly. When looking for jobs in the hospitality industry, good people skills are a huge plus, especially in supervisory positions where people will be dealing with customer service issues.
This type of work frequently has erratic hours. Bar supervisors must be able to stand for long periods of time and do not usually have access to benefits such as childcare. Work at larger establishments may provide some benefits, but retirement benefits and health care are usually not included. Supervisory employees may have opportunities for advancement, such as becoming the head manager or managing a bar in a different location.