Wendy’s manager fired for restraining neurodivergent employee

A manager at a Wendy’s restaurant in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has been fired following allegations that she restrained a neurodivergent employee using garbage bags tied to kitchen equipment.

Michiko Burton, the manager involved, admitted to the restraint but provided conflicting accounts of her motivations. According to a co-worker, Nicholus Murphy, who filmed the incident, Burton stated she did not want to ‘babysit’ the worker and needed him to ‘stay put’ so she could focus on other tasks. Burton later told police the incident was a ‘TikTok trend’ intended as a joke and claimed the employee was willing participants, though Murphy disputed this claim.

Following the distribution of the video to supervisors, franchise leadership held a staff meeting where an area manager condemned the behavior as ‘unacceptable’ and confirmed Burton’s termination. While the employee reportedly stated he was not injured or upset, authorities have reopened the investigation into the matter.