COLUMBIA, SC (WACH) -- Nykia Hamilton, a mother who gained widespread attention this summer for managing a Columbia Burger King single-handedly, has been fired and is now planning legal action against the company.
Hamilton went viral in June for her dedication to running the restaurant alone. Now, she said she was terminated last week due to attendance issues, which she disputes.
Bro, Applegreen fired me because I've been late, because of my kids. Bro my kids come first and now when are y'all going to watch my kids? Y'all don't pay for no babysitter no nothing," Hamilton said in a tearful TikTok video after her dismissal from the Burger King on Broad River Road.
Hamilton claimed she was wrongfully terminated after being scheduled to work on a day she was returning from approved time off.
So, I told them I'm not going to make it in time I don't see how y'all would schedule me at 12 knowing I'm leaving Charlotte at 11 and it takes an hour and 30 minutes to get to work. Still got to drop the kids off. Still got to do everything," she said.
Despite being told to return to work the following day, Hamilton said the franchise owner, Matt O'Doherty, reviewed her time logs and cited her for frequent tardiness.
I was like 'How I got a final written warning when I never got wrote up or in trouble with the company?'" she said, adding that she always communicated with her general manager about her lateness.
Hamilton accused Burger King and O'Doherty of using her attendance as a pretext for her dismissal.
He was like. 'You caused controversy, you've caused too much problems from the job, you knew not to work by yourself,'" she said, noting that the company later implemented a policy against solo shifts.
Burger King, in a statement, said:
Terminations are the decision of the franchisees who own and operate the BK restaurant. In this situation, the franchise confirmed the individual involved is no longer employed due to repeated attendance issues."
The company also expressed disappointment that its policy against working alone was not followed.
O'Doherty, in a separate statement, said:
Applegreen has a strict policy of employees not operating restaurants alone. For absolute clarity, Applegreen did not terminate Ms. Hamilton's employment, she resigned immediately pending an investigation."
Hamilton, who said she felt neglected by the company, is planning to sue for emotional distress.
I feel like that's emotional distress, y'all neglected me at the job for 2 days and you're saying, Burger King responded, saying I put the job in danger, I was a liability but how y'all knew I was in the store by myself for 2 days," she said.
Despite the setback, Hamilton has received community support through a GoFundMe campaign and assistance from a local Second Chances event to expunge her record.
She has secured a new job and is set to start next week.