Wendy’s Reportedly Fires 20+ Year Employee With Down Syndrome

A North Carolina man with Down Syndrome was allegedly was fired from his job at Wendy’s with no notice.

The man’s angry sister claims management told her it was because he couldn’t do the job like a “normal” person.

Dennis Peek, 51, had worked for the Wendy’s location in Stanley, N.C., about 30 minutes outside Charlotte, for more than 20 years, his sister, Cona Young Turner, wrote on Facebook.

My brother Dennis has worked at Wendy’s in Stanley for over 20 years and I am heart broken to say they have fired him!!!!!!!! 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!!!!!!! They told me was unable to perform the duties of a normal persons job!!!! 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!

The post was shared more than 12,000 times.

This is Dennis Peek. His sister tells me she found out yesterday he was fired from his job at @Wendys in Stanley, NC after 20+ years. In my report tonight hear what the company says is an “unfortunate mistake” that lead to his termination & what is being done to fix it. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/iIoUzcoNSA

— Hannah Goetz (@HannahGoetztv) October 6, 2022

ABC 7 aired this video report:

From the New York Post:

Turner followed up, without explanation, to say the company offered Dennis his job back.

“My heart is overwhelmed by the support that you all have given my brother and myself! Thank you all so much,!!” she wrote.

Ultimately, Turner wrote, Dennis will not go back to his job.

“He will be having his BIG RETIREMENT party that he has been wanting. 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,” she wrote.

In a statement to The Post, the franchise company which owns the Wendy’s location where Dennis worked called his firing “a very unfortunate mistake and lapse in protocol.”