Mandel persists in claiming that former President Donald Trump stole the 2020 election.
Republican Josh Mandel fills his Twitter account regularly with photos of restaurant workers, and other people he meets while on the campaign trail for the U.S. Senate.
One such tweet got a Northwest Ohio brewery in serious trouble over the weekend.
He visited Inside the Five in Perrysburg on Friday, and took a photograph with a waitress. He said she was sick because they were understaffed. The tweet was sent as the delta variant of COVID-19 is taking root across Ohio.
Mandel tweeted, "These are the kind of American workers that makes our country strong."
PERRYSBURG (OH) @InsideTheFive was started by two NFL veterans. Delicious food and friendly waitresses.
Brianne was ill today but she still came to work as she knew there were no servers.
These are the American workers who make America strong. pic.twitter.com/o0VFkDkjuo Josh Mandel (@JoshMandelOhio) August 20, 2021
Mandel's Facebook post, which he also shared, was quickly criticized by many for exposing information that could harm the business and drawing swift backlash. Mandel was quick to criticize the establishment he had just praised for not respecting its employees and sent the employee home to take a COVID-19 exam.
Mandel stated that Brianne was able to overcome feeling sick and get to work, despite being paid by the government. "She deserves to be praised for being a team player and not having her brewery attacked by lazy, woke liberals."
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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (a Democrat running for Senate) attacked Mandel's comments.
Ryan tweeted, "If you are serious about celebrating workers you would join me in calling to increase wages & pay time off." Josh, it is disgusting to tell people to get sick, whether they have COVID or a cold, and then attack small businesses in order to score political points. Get up!
Chris Morris, co-owner of Inside the Five, said that employees must inform their managers before they start work if they feel unwell. They can't go to work until they have tested negative for COVID-19. Morris stated that Mandel's waitress didn't tell Morris because she believed her allergies were the cause of her nasal congestion.
The employee was not fired.
Morris stated, "The worst thing is that people have accused me of forcing my employees to work while they are sick." Morris said, "That's not the truth. We are extremely sensitive to the pandemic situation and make sure our employees are taken care of."
Inside the Five temporarily removed its Instagram and Facebook pages. Morris claimed that the brewery had never had a twitter account, despite reports to the contrary.
As for Mandel? Morris stated that Mandel wasn't on Morris' radar before this event.
Morris stated that he didn't know who he was. "We don't do anything in politics. No matter what party they are for, we don't support any politician.
Haley BeMiller is a journalist for USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. This bureau serves the Columbus Dispatch and Cincinnati Enquirer as well as Akron Beacon Journal, Akron Beacon Journal, and 18 other news organizations throughout Ohio.
This article first appeared on The Columbus Dispatch. Ohio Senate race: Josh Mandel praises waitress for coming in sick
