An individual with autism who dedicated over four years of unpaid work at a Waitrose store has been extended a job opportunity at Asda. Tom Boyd, aged 27, engaged in work experience and volunteered for more than 600 hours at the Cheadle Hulme store in Greater Manchester, according to his mother, Frances. Following a request by Frances in July for paid work acknowledgment, Waitrose’s head office reportedly terminated Tom’s work experience placement.
Frances disclosed that Tom has received a paid job offer from Asda. Expressing her excitement, she shared with the BBC, “We’ve had some great news – Asda have offered him two five-hour paid shifts a week.”
When Frances addressed the pay matter with Waitrose, it is believed that the head office expressed concerns over the extent of Tom’s unpaid work and halted his involvement until the situation was resolved. Frances refrained from informing Tom, who has limited communication abilities, of the reason for his hiatus, citing that she told him the store required cleaning to prevent upsetting him.
Frances expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support her son’s story has garnered, as well as the employment offer from Asda. She commended the local Waitrose store for their handling of the situation but criticized the supermarket’s head office for their response.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, voiced his backing for Tom, condemning the treatment Tom received and pledging support in finding him another suitable placement.
Frances, speaking to the Daily Mail, stated that she would not pursue Waitrose for retroactive pay, emphasizing the importance of youth volunteering. She mentioned, “It’s beyond that. It’s about young people volunteering. Waitrose have apologized and said they are looking into it.”
Initially sharing the situation on a Facebook post, Frances described feeling let down by how her autistic son had been treated unfairly. She emphasized Tom’s hard work and dedication, highlighting the lack of recognition and appreciation from Waitrose after her plea for paid hours for Tom.
A spokesperson from Waitrose mentioned, “We work hard to be an inclusive employer” and expressed regret over Tom’s situation, noting ongoing investigations. The Mirror has reached out to Waitrose for further comment.