Chick-fil-A Staff Says She Blacked Out From a Falling Pan, But the Store Brushed Off Her Accident. Now She’s in Debt: ‘It’s Just a Chicken Pan’
She couldn't go home after.
A former staff member of Chick-fil-A claimed that a workplace accident involving a heavy pan during her shift resulted in her blacking out, developing vision problems, and racking up thousands of dollars in debt. Mac Daddy Mei (@macdaddymei) shared in a video on TikTok the event that allegedly led up to the incident and its aftermath.
According to Mei, the incident transpired on May 7, 2026, at Chick-fil-A’s store on Cascade Road in Atlanta, Georgia, during her shift. Mei was allegedly working on preparing customer orders, informing the kitchen crew what to prepare, and returning empty pans back on the shelf above the fryer. She added that a coworker had advised her to never use a ladder to reach the shelf, as it was deemed a hazard.
Mei said that while attempting to return a hot pan back on the shelf, the pan slipped and fell on her head instead. A coworker and the store’s manager supposedly witnessed the accident, while her other coworkers are said to have heard the ordeal. This isn’t the first case of a staff member getting injured by store equipment; one woman was sent to the hospital after accidentally injuring herself on a receipt spike.
Chick-fil-A manager allegedly didn’t let Mei go home
Mei claimed that a coworker asked if she was feeling okay and was given a 30-minute break after feeling lightheaded. While she was recovering, Mei said she drank Powerade, ate, and tried to cool down with ice. However, she supposedly still felt unwell and called her fiancé to tell him she was “seeing stars.”
According to Mei, she asked her manager if she could go home as she continued to feel sick, but was told to wait for another coworker to arrive for their 3pm shift. However, by the time the other coworker was due to arrive, Mei’s own shift would have ended by 2:20pm.
Mei claimed that she decided to continue working as she couldn’t afford to leave the job because she was living paycheck to paycheck. Mei said she also sent her fiancé and sister a video explaining the situation, just in case something happened and she needed evidence.
When Mei finally returned to work, she was allegedly moving slower than usual and was struggling to speak to her coworkers. Her legs ultimately gave out, and she hit her head again on a counter before passing out.
Mei said she gained consciousness in her manager’s office with a cold compress on her forehead and paramedics on the scene. According to Mei, the Chick-fil-A store owner had supposedly downplayed the entire accident. “It’s just a chicken pan. It’s just a chicken pan. How could this even happen? This is just a chicken pan,” the owner said repeatedly, per Mei’s account.
Mei claims she was ghosted
Mei claimed she initially declined medical treatment due to the costs and her lack of health insurance; however, paramedics supposedly informed her that workers’ compensation would cover the treatment as the accident happened on the store’s property and was due to their negligence. She said she was brought to Emory University Hospital, where she spent around nine hours undergoing CT scans, a pregnancy test, and bloodwork.
Following the tests, Mei said she didn’t sustain any brain damage, but was diagnosed with a concussion and developed astigmatism in her left eye, which she allegedly didn’t have before the accident. In a separate post, Mei shared a screenshot of the medical diagnosis, which showed she suffered a “Concussion without loss of consciousness, initial encounter” and a “Blurring of visual image of left eye.” The hospital visit apparently left Mei with a $3,169.95 debt.
According to Mei, she was told by Chick-fil-A that she wouldn’t be receiving workers’ compensation, nor would the store cover her remaining medical balance. The accident allegedly forced Mei to discontinue working at the store and in the food service industry due to light sensitivity and lightheadedness. In a separate incident, a Chick-fil-A staff member was fired from their job after taking sick leave.
Mei claimed that the entire ordeal led her to become temporarily homeless due to the loss of income, and that her mental health took a toll. Aside from the financial and mental strain, she claimed that she experiences frequent migraines as a result.
Viewers poured in their sympathy for Mei’s situation and shared advice on possible ways to move forward. “I’m so confused how they denied your workers’ comp,” one comment said. “I am sooooo sorry you have to experience this. I’m sure you’ve already reached out to your resources but you can definitely file for disability and sue the company for negligence. This is absolutely unacceptable and the owner had no intention of providing care for you. All of them need to be held accountable. Praying for your recovery,” another said.
Another viewer said, “Get in touch with Chick fil a, they should have filed a report and you should have gotten worker’s comp. If Chick fil a doesn’t resolve it take legal action there are attonerys that will work on contingency.”
In a follow-up video, Mei shared that she finally received her workers’ compensation after going public with her story. “They cleared up my debt. It took me putting them on blast after ghosting me, but they eventually cleared up my debt,” Mei said. She expressed her gratitude to the viewers and claimed she would’ve still been in debt had the video not gained any traction.
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