Employee with down syndrome fired from Wendy’s in US

Fast-food restaurant company Wendy’s in North Carolina's Stanley fired an employee. The company later called it an unfortunate mistake after the employee's family expressed outrage. The employee’s sister supported her brother, stating that what happened is wrong.

Dennis Peek was an employee at Wendy’s on South Highway 27 in Stanly. His sister Cona Turner noted that his work was his purpose and that he looked forward to going to work. Customers would greet him by name, and he would be giddy with happiness.





Peek with down syndrome had been an employee at the outlet for more than 20 years. His job was cleaning up after customers, and the job meant everything to him. His sister was heartbroken to learn that her brother was fired due to his limited skill set. She feels that it is not fair to fire him because he cannot do more than he is capable of.

Wendy’s Response

Wendy’s is owned by Carolina Restaurant Group and stated that they are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for their employees and customers. They noted that the incident was an unfortunate mistake and was a protocol lapse. They have been in touch with the employee’s family. Wendy’s looks forward to welcoming Peek back to work.

FAQs

What is the job status of the manager who fired Peek?
Wendy’s did not directly comment on the job status of the manager responsible for firing Peek. They said appropriate action was taken, and the opportunity is being used to retrain all teams on Wendy’s protocols.

Did Dennis Peek get his job back?
Yes, Wendy’s announced that they have been in touch with Peek’s family and look forward to his return to work.