Ohio Senate candidate slammed for encouraging people to go to work sick during a pandemic: 'Ignorance and stupidity'
In Ohio, former State Treasurer Josh Mandel is among the far-right Republicans competing in the Buckeye State's 2022 U.S. Senate race. And the Trump loyalist is being slammed by critics following a Friday, August 20 visit to an Ohio brewery where he praised an employee for going to work sick.
The brewery that Mandel visited was Inside the Five in Perrysburg, Ohio, where he met an employee named Brianne. Mandel later tweeted a photo of himself with his arm around Brianne, writing, "Even though Brianne was sick today, she came to work because she knew they were short servers. These are the type of American workers that make our country strong."
PERRYSBURG, OH \u2014 @InsideTheFive is a cool brewery started by two NFL vets. Great food and spirited waitresses!\n\nEven though Brianne was sick today, she came to work because she knew they were short servers.\n\nThese are the type of American workers that make our country strong.pic.twitter.com/o0VFkDkjuo— Josh Mandel (@Josh Mandel) 1629483633
Neither Mandel nor Brianne is wearing a mask in the August 20 photo. After co-owner Chris Morris found out that Brianne had been sick, he sent her home — stressing that he doesn't want employees to come to work when they're sick. And now, according to Ohio's 13 ABC, Morris is worried that his business will suffer because of the bad publicity Mandel has brought him.
Morris told 13 ABC, "Anytime we're shown in a bad light, it's upsetting to us, but we'll get through this."
Mandel has an embarrassing history of coronavirus denialism. On June 1, he tweeted a photo of himself burning a protective face mask, posting "FREEDOM":
FREEDOM pic.twitter.com/EfJlH18BqA— Josh Mandel (@Josh Mandel) 1622593991
On August 20, Mandel doubled down on saying that Brianne should have come to work sick — and he even attacked the brewery, posting:
Hey @InsideTheFive, instead of giving into the woke mob, how bout having your employee\u2019s back and giving her a raise.\n\nWhile so many people are getting paid to sit home and do nothing, Brianne muscled through feeling under the weather and came to WORK.https://twitter.com/JoshMandelOhio/status/1428784031638949899\u00a0\u2026— Josh Mandel (@Josh Mandel) 1629518082
Mandel is being inundated with negative tweets for encouraging risky behavior during a pandemic. Journalist Molly Jong-Fast posted:
Why might coming into work sick during a pandemic be a bad idea?— Molly Jong-Fast (@Molly Jong-Fast) 1629555023
Here are some more reactions:
You just tanked their small business buy letting the public know they allow their employees to work sick during a pandemic. I doubt they'll be able to afford giving her a raise now.— Katie Porters Whiteboard (@Katie Porters Whiteboard) 1629569630
Coming into work sick whether it's a pandemic or the flu or anything else for that matter puts every single person around you at risk to get whatever they have. I am so amazed and sick at the ignorance and stupidity of people in this world today! How can you even ask?pic.twitter.com/SB5ajBITNZ— Lisa LaBianca (@Lisa LaBianca) 1629583426
You\u2019re calling this \u2018woke\u2019? Employees should not come to work if they are sick. Especially during a pandemic— Michael Donohoe (@Michael Donohoe) 1629551110
Where are their masks for heaven\u2019s sake. Why are people allowed to gather at close range in the middle of the pandemic??— karla tucker (@karla tucker) 1629612187
Does she have covid?\nBTW...I am not going to visit any business where the employees come to work when they are sick.\nGood job, sinking this brewery.— Art Martin (@Art Martin) 1629502706
As a former server and fast food worker you have absolutely eaten in a restaurant where employees come in sick. It\u2019s what happens when you don\u2019t have paid sick leave; a missed shift is literally the difference between being able to pay rent or not.— \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 SHOTS & MASKS!! (@\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 SHOTS & MASKS!!) 1629544176
Cool cool cool Josh, letting everyone know that this restaurant allows sick workers to serve their customers. I'm sure this will be a big boost for them! Also, can someone call the health department??— Bye Rob Portman (@Bye Rob Portman) 1629486488
Also, I do not see them wearing face masks... Huh? Whatever she has now gets spread to others...— Ann\u00e9Leonard (@Ann\u00e9Leonard) 1629575145
Hey, who wants to go to grab some drinks and food at place where we can be served by a sick person in a pandemic? Just Josh?— Shannon Hoffman (@Shannon Hoffman) 1629552883
- Far-right anti-vaxxer Republican laughed at COVID-19 only 5 days ... ›
- Nancy Pelosi loses her patience over Kevin McCarthy's anti-masker ... ›
- Anti-mask Arkansas senator who called coronavirus a 'hoax' gets ... ›
