Overview

• Nykia Hamilton, a single mother of three in the Columbia area, was dismissed weeks after a July video showed her operating the Broad River Road Burger King by herself.
• Burger King said franchisees make personnel decisions and cited repeated attendance issues, while Hamilton said her lateness stemmed from childcare responsibilities.
• The company reiterated that no employee should be left to run a restaurant alone and expressed disappointment that its staffing policy was not followed.
• Donations to Hamilton’s GoFundMe surpassed $100,000 as sympathy and criticism of the firing spread across TikTok and X.
• Reports detail chronic understaffing and long shifts, with Hamilton saying she often worked 12-hour days and closed the store without help.