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A Tennessee Wendy’s manager was fired after she allegedly tied a neurodivergent employee to kitchen equipment when she didn’t want to “babysit” the worker while tending to her duties.
The worker, who was not identified, was restrained in a makeshift hold made of garbage bags attached to a metal counter inside the Wendy’s location in Murfreesboro, Tenn., according to footage obtained by WSMV.
“I actually felt sad for him,” co-worker Nicholus Murphy, who recorded the video, told the outlet. “I actually wanted to cry.”
Michiko Burton, a manager at the fast-food joint, admitted to tying up the worker but gave conflicting reasons.
She had told other employees it was to keep him out of the way.
“She said that she didn’t want to babysit him, and that she needed him to ‘stay put’ so she could do whatever she was doing in the back,” Murphy said.
The manager, who was later fired for the incident, told police she was doing a “TikTok trend,” “intended as a joke,” and that the worker was “okay” with being a part of it.
“If there was a TikTok trend, then where’s the TikTok?” Murphy asked the outlet.
Murphy shared the video with his supervisors, leading to a staff meeting with the franchise’s officials.
“Whether it be a cruel joke or intended, I don’t care,” an area manager said in a staff meeting recorded by Murphy.
“Whatever went on a couple of Sundays ago is unacceptable,” the higher-up added. “Flat out. With anybody, it’s unacceptable.”
Burton was not charged or arrested after the worker said he was not upset or injured from being tied up.
“It’s unacceptable for anybody,” the area manager told workers. “That is why Michi is not here anymore. Michi is no longer a manager for us.”
About 20 percent of the world’s population is neurodivergent, with the designation being used as an umbrella term encompassing ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, among others, according to the Neurodiversity Directory.
“In the United States, an estimated 85% of autistic adults are unemployed, compared with 4.2% of the overall population,” the World Economic Forum found.
Any qualified neurodivergent employee is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Police reopened the investigation and interviewed Murphy, the area manager and the employee who was tied up, looking for more information on the incident Friday, the outlet reported.
The independently owned location opened its doors in 2025.
Store officials condemned Burton’s act.
“The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority, Wendy’s of Bowling Green told WSMV. “This behavior is inconsistent with our values and the standards we expect in our restaurants. Upon learning of the situation, it was promptly investigated and appropriate action was taken. We remain committed to maintaining a respectful workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and respect.”
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