Autistic man dumped by Waitrose after mum requested for wage will get provided Asda position

An autistic man who dedicated more than four years of voluntary service at a Waitrose branch has landed himself a paid position with Asda. Tom Boyd, 27, clocked up over 600 hours of unpaid work experience at the Cheadle Hulme outlet in Greater Manchester.

Trouble began when his mother Frances approached the supermarket about offering Tom some paid hours in recognition of “the time, effort and heart” he had contributed since 2021.

Waitrose head office reportedly decided that Tom’s work experience arrangement had to come to an end.

Frances has now revealed that Tom has secured employment at an Asda branch, reports the Mirror. Speaking to the BBC, the delighted mum announced: “We’ve had some great news – Asda have offered him two five-hour paid shifts a week.”

It’s believed that when Frances raised the matter of compensation with Waitrose, head office became worried about the substantial amount of unpaid labour Tom had provided – and determined he couldn’t continue until the matter was sorted.

Tom had been out of work for more than two months, with his mother choosing not to explain the real reason to protect his feelings, instead telling him the shop was undergoing cleaning.

Frances expressed being “overwhelmed” by the public reaction to her son’s situation and his fresh opportunity with Asda.

The grateful mum added: “It’s overwhelming and they are flexible to say if at any time he is struggling they are fine. How amazing that a company could do this.”

Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Waitrose and Partners affirmed: “We’re absolutely committed to being an inclusive employer.

“We work closely with a number of charities, and employ people from a huge range of backgrounds, including those who require additional support. When we offer work experience, it’s always with good intentions and to help people gain experience.

“While we are not able to discuss individual cases, we would always need to complete our investigation before agreeing the best resolution.

“This is already under way and we’re in touch with the family and the charity to reassure them that we’re working urgently on this.”

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