An autistic man who dedicated over four years of unpaid work at a Waitrose store has been offered a job by Asda. Tom Boyd, 27, completed work experience and volunteered for more than 600 hours at the Cheadle Hulme store in Greater Manchester, according to his mother, Frances. Following her request for paid work recognition in July 2021, Waitrose head office informed her that Tom’s work experience placement had to end.
Frances disclosed that Tom has now been granted paid employment at Asda, with two five-hour shifts per week. Waitrose’s head office seemed concerned about the substantial amount of unpaid work Tom had undertaken, leading to a pause in his activities until a resolution was reached. Frances expressed dissatisfaction with the response she received from Waitrose, describing it as dismissive and cold.
Despite Tom’s limited communication skills, he has been out of work for over two months. Frances refrained from informing him about the situation to avoid upsetting him, instead stating that the store was undergoing cleaning. She expressed overwhelming gratitude for the positive response to her son’s story and the job offer from Asda, praising the company’s flexibility and support.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, showed support for Tom, condemning the treatment he received and offering assistance in finding another suitable placement. Frances commended the local Waitrose store but criticized the supermarket’s head office for its handling of the situation. She mentioned that Waitrose had apologized and was investigating the matter, stating that she would not pursue backdated pay from the company.
Frances initially shared the issue with Waitrose on Facebook, expressing disappointment in the way her autistic son was treated. She highlighted Tom’s hard work and dedication, emphasizing the lack of acknowledgment and appreciation from Waitrose. The store’s spokesperson mentioned their efforts to be an inclusive employer and their commitment to making reasonable adjustments for employees, stating they were investigating Tom’s case as a priority.
The Mirror has reached out to Waitrose for comment on the matter.