Burger King Worker Makes Us Crazy: Here's Why | WATCH
Single mother Nykia Hamilton went viral after revealing she managed an entire restaurant solo during a 12-hour shift in South Carolina.
A TikTok video showing a tearful Burger King employee in Columbia, South Carolina, has drawn national attention to the harsh conditions faced by low-wage workers in the U.S. fast food industry. Nykia Hamilton, a 25-year-old single mother of three, was left to operate an entire Burger King restaurant on her own during a grueling 12-hour shift, covering every role from cooking and drive-thru service to cleaning and customer orders.
“I had to do the dishes, do prep, do the floor, do the front counter, drive-thru,” Hamilton said in an emotional interview with WACH Fox 57. “I miss out on my kids’ lives when I work so much… but I have to provide for them.”
Her story resonated with thousands online after she posted a video on TikTok documenting her overwhelming workload, highlighting the personal toll it takes on her family life.
Hamilton said she was left alone due to a staffing shortage after a team member quit with little notice. Despite her exhaustion, she continues to work extended hours, often without relief, because of her responsibility as her family’s sole provider. “Nobody wants to work anymore,” she added, through tears, referencing a phrase often used in political debates. In her case, though,it reflects a crisis of understaffing and labor exploitation.
The viral video prompted widespread outrage and concern, forcing Burger King to respond. In a statement to WACH Fox 57, a spokesperson said:
“At Burger King, it is our policy that all company and franchise-owned restaurants require more than one team member working per shift. We are working with the franchisee of this location to understand what happened and take any necessary action.”
Hamilton, who has a criminal record, says she is nonetheless grateful for the job, acknowledging the difficulty of finding employment. “Even though it’s hard, I’m thankful I have a way to support my kids,” she said.
Her story has become a symbol of a broader systemic issue: overworked and underpaid employees in industries hit hardest by labor shortages, inflation, and a rising cost of living. Hamilton’s experience has sparked renewed calls for better labor protections, higher wages, and improved working conditions for essential service workers.
As her video continues to circulate online, many are asking: How many others are silently carrying the same burden?