Applebee's Will Finally Pay Employee With Autism

Caleb Dyl made headlines earlier this month when a reporter uncovered that the 21-year-old had worked at an Applebee’s restaurant in Middletown, Rhode Island, for nearly a year without getting paid. After dozens of news outlets then covered the story, a rep from the restaurant confirmed Dyl will finally be compensated for all 480 of the hours he worked, WPRI reported.

Dyl, who has autism, was placed at the job by social service agency Resources for Human Development (RHD). He took on an unpaid position for nearly a year in Applebee’s training program. After that, the restaurant reportedly agreed to hire him as a part-time worker in August 2014. Dyl’s parents then filled out the appropriate forms for direct deposit and W-4, but he never received a paycheck. When the family inquired about this, they were informed the paperwork was lost, so they filled out another set of forms.

When the story broke, Applebee’s agreed to pay Dyl 166 hours in backpay — the number of hours they said RHD records indicated Dyl had worked. However, his parents claimed the total was closer to 480. The Dyls were told the discrepancy was the result of their son not clocking in — something his case worker should have helped him do, WPRI reported.

Though the restaurant has now agreed to pay Dyl for the full 480 hours, the R.I. Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals is still investigating the incident.