CANTON, Ohio, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- McDonald's USA says the owner of an Ohio restaurant made a serious mistake when he gave employees a Republican handout with their paychecks.
Allen Schulman, a lawyer and the Democratic president of the city council in Canton, where the restaurant is located, told The New York Times he first saw the handout Wednesday. He said the restaurant owner, Paul Siegfried, may have broken an Ohio law that bars employers from enclosing political information in pay envelopes.
A spokesman for the parent company said political lobbying of employees is not McDonald's policy.
"It was an unfortunate lapse in judgment on Mr. Siegfried's part," the spokesman said. "He's disappointed with himself."
The material listed three specific candidates employees were urged to vote for.
"If the right people are elected, we will be able to continue with raises and benefits at or above the current levels. If others are elected, we will not," it said.
