Autistic man told he could no longer work for Waitrose hired by Asda

An autistic antheral who was told helium could nary longer stack shelves astatine Waitrose erstwhile helium asked to beryllium paid has been offered a occupation by Asda.

Tom Boyd, 28, began volunteering unpaid astatine the subdivision of Waitrose in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester, successful 2021, supported by a attraction worker, to make skills for the workplace connected a further acquisition people helium was taking.

The enactment gave him a consciousness of "purpose and belonging", his mother, Frances Boyd, told the BBC.

When she asked successful July if helium could beryllium paid for a fewer hours each week, however, the supermarket's caput bureau told him helium had to halt and could not instrumentality to the shop.

Ms Boyd said they felt "deeply fto down" by the determination arsenic helium had taken large pridefulness successful his work, which included putting retired banal and tidying the shelves.

"If I went successful and saw him, helium was smiling, and it gave him independence, a consciousness of intent and belonging," she said.

"He gave implicit 600 hours of his clip purely due to the fact that helium wanted to belong, contribute, and marque a difference...

"He deserved better. He deserved kindness, respect and the accidental for each his hard enactment to mean something."

Mr Boyd has present been offered 2 paid five-hour shifts each week by Asda.

"It's overwhelming and they are flexible to accidental if astatine immoderate clip helium is struggling they are fine," his parent said.

"How astonishing that a institution could bash this."

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Welcoming the quality connected X, Greater Manchester politician Andy Burnham said helium hoped it would pb to much employers accepting a neurodivergent codification of champion signifier helium has launched.

An Asda spokesperson said that erstwhile the store heard astir Mr Boyd's tendency to find meaningful enactment they knew helium would beryllium a "fantastic fit" and were delighted to connection him a role.

"We cognize that uncovering meaningful enactment tin beryllium particularly challenging for individuals with learning disabilities oregon difficulties," they said.

"Asda has a Supported Internship Programme and concern with DFN Project SEARCH, done which we person welcomed implicit 30 talented caller colleagues into roles crossed our stores. We person seen the affirmative interaction this has for the individuals who articulation and for our colleagues and customers too."

A Waitrose spokesperson said they "care deeply" astir helping radical into the workplace who mightiness not different beryllium fixed a accidental and that the concatenation is presently investigating what happened to Mr Boyd.

"We'd similar to invited Tom back, successful paid employment, and are seeking enactment from his household and the foundation to bash so. We anticipation to spot him backmost with america precise soon," they added.