Coalition of Franchisee Associations

June 5, 2020

Should Restaurants Donate to Candidates?

Do restaurants donate to candidates? It’s complicated -Jonathan Maze
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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Donating thru PAC's makes no sense, for like OPNAD, NFLA and other organizations. Operators have the appearance of participation, but seriously you have no control. The same is with politics.

Franchisees are individual company's - but corporations none-the-less. You advertise to better your sales, you better be politically involved to control the regulations and environment for your business to survive.

Obviously, you don't get the "bang-for-the-buck", individually. But in todays McDonald's consolidation of restaurants environment, many organizations are pretty LARGE FROGS in their small ponds. Why not flaunt the influence? No matter what the liberal corporate position may be. Its not reportable to McDonald's. Legally, McDonald's cannot attack a constitutional right (though I'm sure they will try).

With Corporate making these politically charged statements in today's electric environment, you better be balancing the messaging. ALL LIVES MATTER. Franchisees support the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, and support ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR. As well, race, gender, religion, creed, age, pregnancy, disability, medical condition or any other possible discriminatory factors. Operators have always been EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS. Its OPERATORS that founded its individual OPERATOR organizations in support of equality - there's ZERO McDonald's Corporate programs.

This year is a very important political year - and with one side going ape shit, if you don't agree with that philosophy you better be prepared and be actively involved to counter the messaging. Otherwise, (and hopefully) live with the consequences of your inactivity.

Richard Adams said...

Thanks to decades of work by McDonald's Owner/Operators the McDonald's system has a stellar record on diversity and equality. McDonald's Operators have nothing to apologize for.

Unfortunately, McDonald's Corporation is being run by people who know little of that history.

Owner/Operators should not allow themselves to be dragged into lose-lose situations.
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Anonymous said...

"lose-lose situations"? Means what?

Anonymous said...

McDonald's should stay the hell out of political advertising and stick to hamburgers, shakes, etc. What happened to that man in Minneapolis was not right but we shouldn't take positions in regard to issues that are boiling over in the country. Are we going to take out ads in regard to the rioting and looting while calling them out for what they are -- criminal acts? Best we stick to the business we are in.

Richard Adams said...

A lose-lose situation is one where you are expected to buy into 100% of an activist group's agenda. If you don't go all-in you are given negative labels, bad press, and are called disgusting names.
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Anonymous said...

If you don't think corporation isn't politically active - your asleep at the switch. Look at these one off donations, and other activism focuses that corporate is doing. These acts label your individual franchise (even if the majority of the system doesn't support that position). Clearly beyond the franchise agreement to promote the brand or "shining the arch".

Case in point, the recent donation to BLM. This ignored every other national program - even employment law with the Civil Right Act. At McDonald's, Black lives do matter - and so does every other color, sex, etc. Now ask yourself, who spoke up in support of that thought? NFLA? NOA? OPNAD?

This is why individually, franchisees need to support methods and candidates that aid, support and promote their solid business model. But operators need to understand, there are those in the command that add their personal views, to interpreting your business decisions. Therefore, with the ever increasing liberal stand of the corporation; if your a conservative in nature in person - that is now a serious risk in McDonaldland. There is no "agree to disagree" any longer - you're the enemy. Hence, you have to be eliminated. That is a pure LOSE-LOSE scenario, where you're being demanded to buy into their politics or be eliminated. They wont call you names (at least to your face), but they will give you a bad review under the many headers they can influence.

Worse, as a brand - your corporate leadership is refusing to show up to the table to be counted and heard- like the last business roundtable at the White House. Not because of the topic of discussion "Business Surviving the Pandemic" - but because of the political party in the White House. This is unacceptable, as it is CHILDISH.

Like Richard said, Corporation is now run by people with no history of the brand and the true spirit of past cooperation(s). Anyone nostalgic in their thinking about that being not true, are a detriment to themselves and the overall system.

Anonymous said...

I am appalled after reviewing the Candidates that the PAC try’s to talk to or educate. I will never send another dollar to them.