The supermarket chain executes employment change of heart regarding initially declined autistic staff member

Waitrose has reversed its determination not to offer compensated employment to an autistic man after originally indicating he had to discontinue stacking shelves at the store where he had volunteered for several years.

In July, Frances Boyd inquired whether her family member the individual could be provided a position at the grocery store in Cheadle Hulme, but her proposal was eventually rejected by the company's corporate office.

Recently, competing supermarket the grocery chain said it wanted to offer Tom employment hours at its Manchester location.

Reacting to the company's change of position, Frances commented: "We are going to think about it and decide whether it is in Tom's best interests to return... and are having additional conversations with Waitrose."

'Looking into the matter'

A representative for the supermarket chain stated: "We'd like to have Tom return, in compensated work, and are requesting assistance from his relatives and the non-profit to facilitate this."

"We hope to see him back with us in the near future."

"We care deeply about supporting workers into the workplace who might otherwise not be offered opportunities."

"As such, we gladly accepted Tom and his care assistant into our local store to build skills and enhance his self-assurance."

"We have guidelines in place to facilitate unpaid work, and are investigating the circumstances in this instance."

The parent explained she had been "profoundly affected" by how people had responded to her sharing her child's situation.

The individual, who has specific communication needs, was praised for his dedication by store leadership.

"He contributed more than six hundred hours of his effort exclusively because he sought inclusion, contribute, and have an impact," stated his mum.

The parent recognized and acknowledged team members at Waitrose's Cheadle Hulme store for assisting him, noting: "They included him and were wonderfully accommodating."

"I think he was just under the radar - operations were proceeding normally until it reached corporate level."

Tom and his mum have been backed by local official the public figure.

He wrote on X that Tom had received "deeply concerning" handling and vowed to "support him to secure alternative employment that succeeds".

The mayor declared the local government body "actively promotes all employers - like Waitrose - to sign up to our recently launched diversity program".

Speaking with Tom's mother, who broke the news of the alternative position on BBC Radio Manchester, the public figure stated: "Congratulations for raising awareness because we require a major education initiative here."

She consented to his proposal to serve as a representative for the campaign.