\n
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe mother-of-three who went viral for working alone at a busy Burger King has been fired by the company.<\/p>\n
In June, a TikTok video of Nykia Hamilton working solo at a Columbia, South Carolina, Burger King gained traction online after she was seen scurrying around the fast food restaurant attempting to do the jobs of several people, including preparing meals, ringing up customers, and cleaning.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old was working two jobs to support her family. But now, she has claimed she was fired by the fast food chain for being late to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy kids come first. Y\u2019all don\u2019t pay for no babysitter, or nothing,\u201d an emotional Hamilton said in an August 8 TikTok video sharing the news of her firing. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy mind is already f***ed up. I\u2019m trying to keep pushing for my kids, but I cannot do this s*** no more. The devil been on my back bad,\u201d Hamilton continued.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>
Nykia Hamilton has been fired from Burger King after going viral for working at a busy restaurant alone (WACH FOX)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhen contacted about Hamilton\u2019s situation, a Burger King spokesperson told The Independent: <\/em>\u201cNo Team Member should ever be left to run a restaurant alone, even for a short period of time. That\u2019s not how we operate, and we\u2019re disappointed that our policy, which requires more than one Team Member to work per shift, wasn\u2019t followed. <\/p>\n\u201cTerminations are the decision of the franchisees who own and operate the BK restaurant. In this situation, the franchisee confirmed that the individual involved is no longer employed due to repeated attendance issues. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we can\u2019t share more on individual personnel matters, we\u2019re focused on making sure every restaurant, whether company or franchise-run, has the staffing and support needed to take care of our Team Members and deliver the kind of experience our Guests expect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hamilton, who started a GoFundMe page after her initial viral video, has raised more than $96,000 as of publication.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank yall so much for the support I didn\u2019t expect turn out but I promise I won\u2019t let yall stay tune for videos dropping soon,\u201d she wrote in a Wednesday update on the fundraising page.<\/p>\n
Hamilton previously opened up about having to sacrifice time with her children for work during an interview with local Fox affiliate WACH.<\/p>\n
\u201cI be missing out on my kids\u2019 lives and I work a lot,\u201d she said during an emotional interview outside the Burger King restaurant. \u201cI have to provide for them, but I really don\u2019t have time to spend with them\u2014and it hurts me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
She explained how she often worked 12 hours a day alone at Burger King, leaving her to balance multiple tasks at once.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my employees just quit on me, and they didn\u2019t have anyone else to come in, so I had to work by myself, and close by myself,\u201d she explained. \u201cHad to do the dishes, do prep, do the floor, do the front counter, drive-thru.\u201d She said she\u2019d finally gotten help the day of the WACH interview, after closing the restaurant by herself the night before.<\/p>\n
\u201c[My co-worker] has been here since 11 o\u2019clock and will stay until close at 11,\u201d she said. \u201cWe just don\u2019t have any employees. Nobody wants to work anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite working by herself sometimes, Hamilton was grateful that her manager gave her the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have no job because I do have a record, and it is hard to find a job with a record. And by grace of God, she gave me a job,\u201d she added about her manager. \u201cSo that\u2019s the only reason why I stayed for her.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n