A Wendy’s manager in Tennessee was fired after video surfaced appearing to show a Autistic employee being restrained with garbage bags and tied to kitchen equipment inside the restaurant.
The incident reportedly happened at a Wendy’s location in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The footage was recorded by a coworker and later brought to the attention of company supervisors, according to reports.
The coworker, identified as Nicholus Murphy, said the employee was tied up while inside the restaurant’s kitchen. Murphy reportedly told investigators that manager Michiko Burton had expressed frustration about having to supervise the employee and wanted him to “stay put” while she took care of other responsibilities.
The disturbing footage eventually reached management, prompting the franchise to take action.
According to reports, an area manager held a meeting with employees after viewing the video and informed them that the conduct was unacceptable. Burton was subsequently removed from her management position and fired.
Burton reportedly gave police a different explanation for what happened. According to the New York Post, she told investigators that the restraint was connected to a TikTok trend and was intended as a joke. She also reportedly claimed that the employee was comfortable with participating.
That explanation has been disputed by Murphy, who questioned whether the incident was actually based on a social-media trend.
The employee reportedly told police that he was not upset by what happened and said he was not injured. Burton was initially not arrested or charged in connection with the incident.
However, the situation did not end there.
Murfreesboro police reportedly reopened their investigation after the video and additional information surrounding the incident came to light. Investigators have reportedly spoken with Murphy, the area manager and the employee involved as they continue looking into what happened.
The case has raised questions about how employees with disabilities or neurodivergence are treated in the workplace, particularly when a manager is responsible for supervising them.
While the video reportedly shows the employee being restrained, authorities have not publicly announced criminal charges against Burton in connection with the incident. The investigation remains ongoing, and the circumstances surrounding the employee’s consent and the manager’s explanation are among the issues being examined.
For now, Burton is no longer employed as a manager at the Wendy’s location.
The investigation could determine whether the incident violated criminal laws in addition to the company’s workplace policies. Any potential charges would ultimately depend on the evidence collected by investigators and the applicable Tennessee law.
As the investigation continues, the video has drawn attention online and sparked criticism over the treatment of a vulnerable employee inside a workplace where management was responsible for his safety.
Video Credit: WSMV
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