Autistic Waitrose worker who was sacked from job finally lands paid role

For many families, the run-up to Christmas is all about juggling plans, ticking things off lists, and hoping everything stays on track. Although, for one Greater Manchester family, the last few months have felt like a whirlwind none of them expected.

What began as a simple question from a mum about whether her son could take on a handful of paid hours soon spiralled into full-on unemployment, before being spoilt for choice jobs-wise thanks to online support.

That’s all for a man who quietly spent years doing what he loved: stacking shelves at his local supermarket.

The story reached boiling point back in October, when the mum of 28-year-old Tom Boyd went public about what had happened. Tom, an autistic man who volunteered at Waitrose for four years, had been told he could no longer work there after his family enquired about 'just a few paid hours'.

Waitrose abruptly ended Tom's placement, putting an end to the four-year job he loved (georgeclerk/Getty Images)

The decision caused a backlash that quickly exploded far beyond Cheadle Hulme. Tom, who needs a support worker to help him through his shifts, had clocked more than 600 hours at Waitrose before head office ended his placement. His mum Frances said the news devastated him, especially as he knew the store and its staff so well.

However, after she posted about their experience on social media, everything changed almost overnight. Offers of support flooded in, and Asda stepped forward with paid employment, giving Tom what Frances called the ‘good news’ he desperately needed.

Speaking to the BBC, Frances said: “He got his uniform on the weekend so he's very excited about his new job,” adding that he’d already begun planning how to spend his wages.

An Asda spokesperson shared the company’s thoughts, saying: “When we heard about Tom's story and his determination to find meaningful work, we knew he would be a great addition to Asda and we're so pleased that he's now joined the team at our Cheadle Hulme store.”

Asda stepped in with paid hours, giving Tom a much-needed boost, before Waitrose reversed its earlier decision (Mike Kemp/Getty Images)

Waitrose then made a dramatic U-turn, confirming it would offer Tom a paid role starting in January.

A spokesperson said: “We’re delighted that Tom has accepted our offer of paid employment and looking forward to welcoming him to start in January, as requested by his family. We have Tom’s best interests at heart and we've worked closely with his family throughout to ensure Tom gets the support he needs.”

Tom’s journey has already reached UK parliament, with Baroness Sherlock saying disabled people are ‘vital to the UK’s workforce’. His mum has since met with the Minister for Social Security and Disability, raising concerns about support schemes that have been cut.