Local

Man files NAACP complaint after employer encourages who to vote for

MCDONOUGH, Ga. — A controversial letter is warning local workers that voting for one presidential candidate could cost them their jobs.

Harold O'Kelley works for Personnel Options, a temp agency. He said he got a note attached to his paycheck on Thursday encouraging him not to vote for President Barack Obama.

"I felt like it was a scare tactic and I really didn't want to vote after that," O'Kelley said.

He said he almost let the note in his paycheck discourage him from voting, but then he thought about the historical struggle so that he could vote and decided that he would not only head to the polls, but speak out as well.

"Because I'm only 20 years old, this is my first election and I just wanted to make a difference," O'Kelley said.

The note said, "If President Obama is reelected and the Affordable Care Act is put in force, it will change the jobs that are available and affect your pay. Obamacare will cost Personnel Options $2,000 in fines for each full time employee."

The note warns employees that their pay will decrease due to fewer jobs being available, and concludes with the charge, "What you can do to protect your job and rate of pay is vote."

O'Kelley said he felt the central message was not to vote for Obama.

Channel 2's Eric Philips called Personnel Options and spoke to a manager. She told him the letter came from corporate, but that in her opinion, it is based on fact.

O'Kelley filed a complaint with the Clayton County NAACP. He said he knows there could be repercussions for him speaking out.

"God blessed me with this job and I know he'll bless me with something better," O'Kelley said.

O'Kelley's complaint will be forwarded to the Secretary of State and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund will also review it.

Philips tried to reach out to Personnel Options' corporate office, but kept getting a busy signal.

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