An autistic man who was told he could no longer stack shelves at Waitrose when he asked to be paid has been offered a job by Asda.
Tom Boyd, 28, began doing unpaid volunteer work at the branch of Waitrose In Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester, in 2021, supported by a carer, to develop professional skills as part of a further education course he was undertaking.
The work gave him a sense of “purpose and belonging”, his mother, Frances Boyd, told the BBC.
When she asked him in July if he could be paid for a few hours a week, the supermarket’s head office told him he had to stop and couldn’t return to the store.
Ms Boyd said they felt “deeply disappointed” by the decision as he took great pride in his work, which included stockpiling and stocking shelves.
“If I walked in and saw him, he would smile, and it gave him independence, a sense of purpose and belonging,” she said.
“He gave over 600 hours of his time simply because he wanted to belong, contribute and make a difference…
“He deserved better. He deserved kindness, respect and the chance that all his hard work had meaning.”
Mr Boyd has now been offered two paid five-hour shifts each week by Asda.
“It’s overwhelming and they’re flexible in saying that if at any time he’s having difficulty, it’s OK,” his mother said.
“It’s amazing that a company can do that.”
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Welcoming the news about X, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he hoped it would lead to more employers accepting a neurodivergent code of practice he launched.
An Asda spokesperson said that when the store heard about Mr Boyd’s desire to find interesting work, they knew he would be a great fit and were delighted to offer him a role.
“We know that finding meaningful employment can be particularly difficult for people with learning disabilities or difficulties,” they said.
“Asda has a supported internship program and partnership with the DFN SEARCH project, through which we have welcomed over 30 talented new colleagues into roles across our stores. We have seen the positive impact this has for the people who join us as well as our colleagues and customers.”
A Waitrose spokesperson said they “care deeply” about helping people access the workplace who might otherwise have been unlucky and that the chain is currently investigating what happened to Mr Boyd.
“We would like to welcome Tom back into paid employment and are seeking the support of his family and the charity to do so. We hope to see him back with us very soon,” they added.