North Carolina Man with Down Syndrome Fired from His Job after 20 Years of Employment

A North Carolina woman turned to social media to voice her grievance when her brother with Down syndrome was fired from his job of more than two decades. Then she shared three more updates to her original post after it gained traction.

Dennis Peek worked at Wendy's in Stanley, a town outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. According to his family, he had been associated with the fast food chain for more than 20 years and was a dedicated worker.

But despite his loyalty and commitment toward his job, Peek's sister, Cona Young Turner, turned to social media to share a piece of unpleasant news.

A Reported Dismissal

On October 6, 2022, Turner took to Facebook to announce that her 51-year-old brother had been fired from his job. A part of her caption read:

"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 (sic)!!!!!!!!"

Turner went on to say that it was her brother's dream to retire from his workplace someday. She added that Peek "was looking forward to a huge retirement party, we may just give him that party and tell him he was retired because he does not understand being fired (sic)."

Sharing Her Grievances

Further down in her Facebook post, Turner shared the reason for her brother's dismissal. She said the manager told her that Peek was "unable to perform the duties of a normal [person's] job."

As Turner opened each box and mail for her beloved brother, Peek's face lit up, and he flashed a warm smile.

The Distraught Sister

The enraged sister noted that she was highly disappointed with the Wendy's management in Stanley for hurting her brother's sentiments.

She concluded by saying that she was determined to find out more details on the wrongful termination of Peek, who has Down syndrome and falls into the category of a special needs worker.

The Company's Official Statement

Carolina Restaurant Group, the organization that owned and ran Wendy's in Gaston County, shared an official statement about Peek's reported dismissal.

They called the incident "a very unfortunate mistake and lapse in control" and said they were committed to providing employees with a safe and inclusive environment.

Ready to Retire

Turner also shared three updates to her original social media post. In the first update, she announced that Peek had been offered his job back and could resume work after a week. She also thanked the netizens for their relentless love and support.

In a second update, the North Carolina woman shared a postal address for those who wished to send cards and letters for Peek. Finally, in her third and final update, she stated that her brother would not return to Wendy's. She wrote:

"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."

Going Viral

As of November 3, 2022, Turner's viral social media post has racked up 12,000 reactions, 14,000 shares, and 5,800 comments.

While talking to WBTV, Turner revealed that a manager informed her brother about his termination over the phone before his caretaker dropped him off at the location.

She said her brother loved going to work and interacting with people who came to the food joint in Stanley.

After her Facebook post gained traction, Turner said Wendy's management contacted her, saying they were unaware of Peek's termination and that he was welcome to resume his work.

A Lovely Surprise

According to Channel 9, Peek received a heartwarming surprise in the mail, overflowing with his supporters' appreciation and love from different parts of the U.S. and even the U.K.

As Turner opened each box and mail for her beloved brother, Peek's face lit up, and he flashed a warm smile. Turner expressed:

"I thank God he got to live long enough to see people love him and treat him the way he deserves to be treated."

Police Officer Peek

Peek's retirement party will be on November 5 at Harper Park, Stanley. In another Facebook post on October 21, Turner shared a picture of Peek, where he was dressed as a police officer. The ecstatic sister wrote:

"[Dennis] absolutely loved his day as being a Mount Holly Police Officer. He loved all his cards the students made him for his retirement. Thank you teachers for doing that for him. I love to see him shine like he did today!"

The Online Reaction

When Peek's story made rounds online, it touched the hearts of netizens far and wide. Here are a few comments that people left on social media:

"I'm glad they have made many efforts to make it right! But congrats on your retirement Dennis!!! Have fun!!"

— (@cathy.bumann) October 10, 2022

"Enjoy your retirement."

— (@tim.ferguson.7771) October 10, 2022

"Happy retirement Dennis!! Hats off to having a loving sister whom I believes has your best interest at heart (sic)."

— (@linda.roth.961) October 10, 2022

Indeed, Peek and Turner are fortunate to have each other. We are also delighted that Peek will finally have his much-awaited retirement party surrounded by his family and friends.

Click here to read another story about an employee who let a boy with Down syndrome help him. His sweet gesture sparked their six-year friendship.