A family claims that a man with autism, who had been volunteering at a Waitrose store for over four years, was given hope of securing a paid job. Tom Boyd, aged 27, had been doing work experience at the Cheadle Hulme store in Manchester, dedicating two mornings every week to tasks like stocking shelves and handling stock. His mother, Frances, mentioned that Tom had volunteered over 600 hours out of his own will to feel a sense of belonging and make a difference.
Despite the family’s request for paid employment for Tom, Waitrose reportedly informed them that he would not be offered a paid position due to not being able to fulfill the full role. Frances criticized the response as dismissive and cold, expressing her disappointment on social media. She highlighted Tom’s enjoyment of working at the store and hoped that shining a light on his situation might lead to better employment opportunities for disabled volunteers.
The family initially received some optimism about the possibility of Tom receiving paid work. However, as time passed, the matter was transferred to the head office without any progress. Frances revealed that she had to fabricate a reason to her son about why he could not return to work after the head office intervened.
Waitrose stated that they strive to be an inclusive employer and are experienced in making reasonable adjustments to support employees. They expressed regret over Tom’s situation and mentioned that they are investigating the matter as a priority. Frances criticized Waitrose for not acknowledging Tom’s commitment and failing to make necessary adjustments for him as per legal requirements.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Frances shared her disappointment about how her son, despite dedicated work at Waitrose, was treated unfairly. She emphasized Tom’s hard work, the positive environment at the store, and the lack of recognition for his efforts. The family’s request for paid hours for Tom was met with what they perceived as a dismissive and cold response from the store manager.
