Situation Overview

Occasionally, someone may enter Soupleaf asking for food without intent to pay — for example, a parent and child, a visibly hungry individual, or someone asking staff or customers directly for help.

This guide helps staff and managers respond with consistency, compassion, and minimal disruption to the dining room.

Core Principles

• Don't turn away genuinely hungry people — a small act of kindness reflects well on Soupleaf and costs little.
• Don't let it become a disruption — the guest should not be soliciting customers or lingering on the floor.
• Keep it simple — two bowls of rice and soup is the standard response.

Staff Protocol

If a guest approaches you directly:

1. Do not engage at length. Politely tell them to wait by the host stand.
2. Notify the manager on duty immediately. Do not make food decisions on your own.
3. Do not allow the guest to approach seated customers. If this happens, intervene calmly: "I can help you at the front — please come with me."

If someone is looking for a job:

• Tell them we are hiring for the new location and invite them to leave their contact information for a callback.
• Do not conduct an impromptu interview on the floor.

Manager Protocol

Step 1: Assess the situation quickly