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The supermarket has reversed its ruling not to provide a paying position to an neurodivergent person after initially saying he had to cease working at the branch where he had donated his time for four years.

During the summer, Tom's mother asked whether her 28-year-old son Tom Boyd could be given a job at the grocery store in Greater Manchester, but her request was eventually rejected by the company's corporate office.

Recently, alternative retailer the grocery chain said it sought to give Tom paid shifts at its Manchester location.

Addressing the company's change of position, the parent commented: "We are going to evaluate the situation and choose whether it is in Tom's best interests to return... and are having further discussions with the supermarket."

'Looking into the matter'

A spokesman for Waitrose commented: "We'd like to have Tom return, in paid employment, and are requesting assistance from his relatives and the charity to do so."

"We expect to welcome him again with us shortly."

"We are committed about helping people into the employment who might usually not be given a chance."

"As such, we warmly welcomed Tom and his care assistant into our Cheadle Hulme branch to build skills and develop his abilities."

"We have policies in place to support unpaid work, and are investigating what's happened in this case."

Tom's mother stated she had been "overwhelmed" by how individuals had responded to her sharing her son's experiences.

The young man, who has limited communication skills, was praised for his work ethic by store leadership.

"He gave more than six hundred hours of his effort purely because he wanted to belong, make a difference, and have an impact," commented his parent.

Tom's mother praised and thanked team members at Waitrose's Cheadle Hulme store for assisting him, stating: "They included him and were wonderfully accommodating."

"I feel he was just under the radar - operations were proceeding normally until it reached corporate level."

Both individuals have been supported by regional leader the mayor.

He posted on X that Tom had received "deeply concerning" handling and promised to "help him to identify different opportunities that functions".

The mayor stated the Greater Manchester Combined Authority "actively promotes each company - like Waitrose - to sign up to our newly established inclusion initiative".

Speaking with the parent, who broke the news of Tom's Asda job offer on BBC Radio Manchester, the elected official said: "Congratulations for raising awareness because we must have a huge awareness campaign here."

She consented to his proposal to serve as a representative for the campaign.