US EditionWaitrose-rejected autistic worker gets Asda offer
Tom Boyd volunteered over 600 hours at Waitrose but lost his role after his family requested paid hours; he has since been offered paid work at a rival supermarket, Asda.
- Tom Boyd, a 27-year-old man with autism, was fired from his voluntary position at Waitrose after his mother requested he be paid for his work of over 600 hours.
- Frances Boyd criticized Waitrose for being dismissive in their response to her request, stating, 'there was no apology, no thanks, and no recognition for his commitment.'
- Tom's shifts have been on hold for over two months, as Waitrose's head office halted his work until they could investigate the situation.
- A Waitrose spokesperson remarked that the supermarket 'works hard to be an inclusive employer,' but could not comment on Tom's specific case.
18 Articles
18 Articles
For four years, autistic Tom Boyd, 28, worked for free in a store. When he asked to be paid, he was fired. “They said it was because he couldn’t do all the work,” says his mother, Frances Boyd.
Autistic volunteer told he could no longer work for Waitrose hired by Asda
Tom Boyd, 28, developed a sense of "purpose and belonging" while volunteering at a local supermarket before being blocked from returning when he asked for a wage, his mother says. He has now been taken on as a paid employee by the company's rival.
Mother of autistic Waitrose volunteer who was let go said son ‘loved his role’
The mother of an autistic man who volunteered at Waitrose stacking shelves has spoken out since he was let go from his position. Frances Boyd said her son Tom, 28, had been volunteering twice a week for over four years at the retailer in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester, as it gave him “a sense of purpose and belonging”. Speaking to the BBC, she said the structure of the role made him “feel like a working man” and he “absolutely loved it”. Howe…
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