Overview
- Tom Boyd, 27, volunteered at the Cheadle Hulme Waitrose from 2021, logging more than 600 hours over two mornings a week stacking shelves and unloading stock.
- After his family asked for a small number of paid hours, the branch escalated the request to head office, which paused his placement and he has not worked for more than two months.
- His mother says they were told he could not be hired because he could not do the “full role”, a rationale she disputes given colleagues’ praise and his work with a support worker.
- Waitrose says it strives to be inclusive, partners with charities on work experience, and is investigating the case as a priority while engaging with the family and their charity.
- Autism Action, Ambitious about Autism and Daisy Chain criticised the situation and called for supported paid roles, as other organisations offered help and the family explored alternative employment without pursuing legal action.