Sam Amico
A longtime Wendy’s employee with Down Syndrome was fired without notice, and his sister alleges he was told it was because he couldn’t perform his duties like a “normal” worker.
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Dennis Peek, 51, had worked at the Wendy’s in Stanley, N.C., for more than 20 years before being dismissed, his sister Cona Young Turner wrote on Facebook.
Young added that it was Peek’s dream to retire as an employee of the restaurant.
Worker With Down Syndrome Fired From Wendy’s
“I am heart broken to say they have fired him,” she wrote. “They told me was unable to perform the duties of a normal persons job.”
“His dream was to retire from there some day and he was looking forward to a huge retirement party, we may just give him that party and tell him he has retired because he does not understand being fired.
“I am also looking into a wrongful termination of a special needs employee, wish me luck! I am very disappointed with the management at Wendy’s in Stanley, they have no idea how they hurt my brother!”
She has since added an address for those who want to send cards or letters and reach out to her brother (Dennis Peek, P.O. Box 183, Mount Holly, NC, 28120).
Her fight for her brother paid off, too, as he was offered his old job back. But he has decided against returning after the trauma of feeling not wanted.
Dennis Peek Finally Retires
But it’s not all heartache and disappointment. Instead, Peek will officially be retiring.
“He will be having his BIG RETIREMENT party that he has been wanting,” Young Turner wrote. “Wendy’s has offered to help with expenses and anything else they can for his special day. I feel in my heart at this point i should do what is best for my brother.”
Wendy’s called Peek’s firing “a very unfortunate mistake and lapse in protocol,” in a statement to the New York Post.
“We value Dennis, have been in touch with his family, and we are looking forward to either welcoming him back to work in the restaurant or to celebrating him in a big way should he choose to retire.”
