That was very sad. I do like Arby's but Feel somewhat different about it now.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/912797/arbys_restaurant_in_chattanooga_refuses.html?car=9 I pasted the link so it's easier to get too, now. That made me want to cry. I think I would have asked them to join me right then and there and paid for their lunch, and then loitered around for awhile to piss off the manager.

I don't really feel any different about the restaurant chain, because it was noted at the end that the employee was new and unaware that they do give out the occasional free meal. However, I am very angry with the employee for being so callous and coldhearted.

Tricky situation - this guy wanted to earn some food but as stated in the article this wouldn't be covered by insurance so if he had an accident whilst working the restaurant would be in trouble. What would you have a beggar do in a restaurant? I wouldn't want to eat somewhere that I saw someone filthy and starving working; that may sound mean but I need to think that the restaurant is clean and healthy! My other concern would be that if I feed one begging man tomorrow I will have a queue of them round the block! From a human perspective it is despicable but from a business perspective I completely understand!

That makes me ill, poor woman, poor man and poor baby.

I would not condemn an entire restaurant chain/franchise by the act of ONE restaurant manager. You also don't know if something like this happens to that restaurant (and/or others in the area) on a regular basis. While it may seem heartless, if the restaurant is approached on a regular basis by people begging, even if it is just to exchange work for food, they may have had to put an end to it. Additionally, I don't know what type of regulations are put in place by the town, state, or even federal government that may prohibit this type of situation. Would it require that the man actually be "hired" and if he weren't officially "hired" are there legal or tax ramifications? What happens if the man is picking up trash in the parking lot and cuts himself on a piece of glass or a rusty nail? Is the restaurant then responsible for medical care or workmans comp? And then if it becomes known that he wasn't officially hired, does that create additional problems.? While it may seem to be a pretty straight forward scenario, it really isn't. I feel badly for the couple, and I realize that many people would prefer to work than to just take handouts. However, with our litigeous society, I can see why business owners/managers may not be able to enter into such agreements. The bigger issue is why the U.S. society as a whole doesn't do a better job of taking care of its citizens who fall onto hard times.

Very sad, but I would not stop going to mine because of what happened at one restruant.