A Wendy’s manager in Tennessee has been fired after an incident where she reportedly tied a neurodivergent employee to kitchen equipment because she didn’t want to “babysit” him while handling her tasks.
The unidentified employee was allegedly restrained using garbage bags attached to a metal counter at a Wendy’s in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as captured in a video obtained by WSMV.
Co-worker Nicholus Murphy, who recorded the footage, expressed sadness about the situation, noting, “I actually wanted to cry.”
Michiko Burton, the manager involved, admitted to tying up the employee but provided conflicting explanations for her actions.
She had informed other staff members that it was to keep him out of the way.
Murphy recounted that Burton said she didn’t want to babysit him and required him to “stay put” for her to focus on her responsibilities in the back.
Following the incident, Burton, who was subsequently fired, explained to police that she was participating in a “TikTok trend” that was meant to be a joke, asserting that the worker was “okay” with it.
Murphy questioned her claim about the TikTok trend, asking, “If there was a TikTok trend, then where’s the TikTok?”
After sharing the video with his supervisors, a meeting was held with franchise officials. An area manager, recorded by Murphy, stated that regardless of intention, the behavior was unacceptable.
Burton was not charged or arrested, as the worker indicated he was neither upset nor injured from being tied up.
“It’s unacceptable for anybody,” the area manager said, emphasizing that Burton was no longer a manager at the restaurant.
According to the Neurodiversity Directory, about 20 percent of the global population is neurodivergent, which includes individuals with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other conditions. The World Economic Forum reports that roughly 85% of autistic adults in the U.S. are unemployed, contrasting sharply with a 4.2% unemployment rate for the general population.
Neurodivergent employees are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Following the incident, police reopened their investigation and interviewed Murphy, the area manager, and the tied employee on Friday for additional insights.
The Wendy’s franchise, which opened in 2025, condemned Burton’s actions, stating that employee safety and well-being are their top priorities and that such behavior contradicts their values.
