Autistic Man Worked At Applebee's For Almost A Year Without A Paycheck

An Applebee's in Middletown, Rhode Island, has come under scrutiny for allegedly failing to pay one of their employees for almost an entire year. Caleb Dyl, 21, a man with severe autism, worked at the fast casual chain for about three days a week for a year in 2014 and never saw a paycheck.  Applebee's will now be backlogging Dyl's paychecks for the entire time he worked there.

According to local news station WPRI, Dyl was placed in the program by the local Pawtucket-based Resources for Human Development and after a few weeks of training, was told that he would be hired as a prep cook. According to Dyl's father, Bob, though he continued to work there for about a year and he had filled out a W-4 form, as well as signed up for direct check deposit, he technically was still in the unpaid job training program for the duration of his employment.

The Applebee's location even treated him as an employee.

"One young man told me they were lucky to have him, that Caleb just continues to work and work and he won't stop until the end of his shift," Bob Dyl explained.

Eleanor Clancy, Applebee's regional manager said that she had no idea that Dyl was not being paid: "We have to make this right," Clancy said.

Applebee's will be cutting Dyl a check for 166 hours of work. The Daily Meal reached out to Applebee's for comment.