A Tennessee Wendy’s manager has been fired after allegedly restraining a neurodivergent employee with garbage bags tied to kitchen equipment.
Michiko Burton, a manager at the Wendy’s in Murfreesboro, Tenn., admitted to tying up the worker but offered contradictory explanations for her actions. Co-worker Nicholus Murphy, who recorded video of the incident, told WSMV that Burton had told other employees she simply wanted the worker out of her 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.
Burton later told police the restraint was part of a “TikTok trend,” calling it “intended as a joke” and claiming the worker was “okay” with being involved. Murphy dismissed that explanation. “If there was a TikTok trend, then where’s the TikTok?” he asked the outlet.
Murphy said the scene left him shaken. “I actually felt sad for him,” he told WSMV. “I actually wanted to cry.”
The footage shows the worker held in a makeshift restraint constructed from garbage bags attached to a metal counter inside the restaurant, which opened in 2025 as an independently owned location. Murphy shared the video with his supervisors, prompting a staff meeting with franchise officials.
An area manager addressed workers in a meeting Murphy recorded, making clear the company would not tolerate Burton’s conduct. “Whether it be a cruel joke or intended, I don’t care,” the area manager said. “Whatever went on a couple of Sundays ago is unacceptable. Flat out. With anybody, it’s unacceptable.”
The area manager confirmed Burton’s termination. “It’s unacceptable for anybody,” he told workers. “That is why Michi is not here anymore. Michi is no longer a manager for us.”
Police initially did not charge or arrest Burton after the worker said he was not upset or injured. However, authorities reopened the investigation Friday and interviewed Murphy, the area manager and the employee who had been tied up, WSMV reported.
Wendy’s of Bowling Green, the franchise operator, issued a statement condemning Burton’s actions. “The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority,” the company 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.”
The incident drew renewed attention to workplace conditions for neurodivergent employees. About 20 percent of the world’s population is neurodivergent, an umbrella term encompassing ADHD, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, among other conditions, according to the Neurodiversity Directory. The World Economic Forum has found that an estimated 85 percent of autistic adults in the United States are unemployed, compared with 4.2 percent of the overall population. Qualified neurodivergent employees are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Police continue their reopened investigation into the matter.