An Applebee’s in Rhode Island has apologized for not paying an autistic employee his wages and said he will be paid.
WPRI reported that an investigation revealed Thursday that 21-year-old Caleb Dyl was hired by a Middletown Applebee’s franchise as a prep cook in August 2014. He worked three days a week for almost a year but never received his pay.
ABC News noted that Dyl’s father said his son was part of a program that helps the disabled find work when he began at the restaurant. He said he filled out the proper papers for his son to be paid but he was not compensated.
An Applebee’s spokesperson, however, said that the paperwork was not sent in timely fashion.
"In this case, a series of unintended errors resulted in Caleb not being paid for approximately seven weeks of part-time employment," the spokesperson said. "This is unacceptable, and once notified, our restaurant owner quickly ensured a check was sent to Caleb’s home. Our franchise has partnered with local service agencies for years to provide unique and valuable employment opportunities to individuals with special needs."
The company is looking into his employment history to pay him his wages for the entire time he worked there and have issued an apology to him and his family.