Nykia Hamilton, a 25-year-old single mother of three from South Carolina, who recently gained online recognition for independently operating a Burger King restaurant, has been terminated from her position due to persistent “attendance issues.” Hamilton attributes these issues to her dedication to her children’s needs.
Hamilton’s story gained traction in July when a customer filmed her single-handedly managing all the stations at a Burger King in Columbia, South Carolina. The situation arose due to a staffing shortage, but Hamilton was committed to ensuring that customers were served. However, just over a month after the video was shared, Hamilton was dismissed from the franchise due to tardiness, which she attributes to her responsibilities as a mother.
On August 8, Hamilton shared a heartfelt video on TikTok expressing her frustration. She explained that her late arrivals were a result of her children’s needs, and she received no childcare support from the company. Hamilton also discussed the emotional burden of trying to balance extensive work hours with raising her children.
Hamilton often worked shifts exceeding 12 hours at Burger King to support her children. She emphasized that her parental duties did not stop, even when she was left to run the restaurant alone. She detailed the various tasks she had to undertake, from dishwashing to managing the drive-thru.
In addition to discussing the physical demands of her job, Hamilton also spoke about the emotional toll of working long hours while trying to raise her children. She expressed her sorrow at missing out on her children’s lives due to her work commitments. Despite the challenges, Hamilton was thankful for the job opportunity, particularly given her previous criminal record.
Burger King confirmed Hamilton’s dismissal, attributing it to repeated attendance issues. The company stated that no team member should ever be left to run a restaurant alone, expressing disappointment that their policy requiring more than one team member per shift was not adhered to. They also emphasized that termination decisions are made by the franchise owners.
Supporters have rallied around Hamilton, encouraging donations to her GoFundMe page, which has raised over $81,000 to assist the single mother. Hamilton did not respond to requests for comment at the time of this report.