Applebee's to pay autistic worker in full after he never got checks

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. - Applebee's officials say they will pay a Rhode Island man who worked at a restaurant for about a year and never received a paycheck.

Caleb Dyl has autism and was placed in the job by the social service agency Resources for Human Development (RHD). He started working as a prep-cook at the Middletown restaurant in August 2014, but the 21-year-old's parents say he never received a check.

Applebee's at first agreed to pay Dyl 166 hours, based on the agency's records. But his parents say he actually worked about 480 hours.

Now, CBS affiliate WPRI-TV reports the chain's New England regional director of operations says the restaurant has agreed to pay Dyl for 480 hours.

"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," Caleb's father, Bob Dyl, told WPRI this week.

Applebee's officials said the restaurant was unaware of the problem and that RHD never contacted them about it. The state Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals says it is still investigating.

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