A 27-year-old autistic man who dedicated over 600 hours to volunteer work at a Waitrose branch in Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester, has allegedly lost his position after his mother made a request for him to be paid for his services.
Tom Boyd had been volunteering at the store for four years, helping with stock cages and shelf-stacking, while being supported by a worker to ensure his safety, as reported by The Daily Mail.
His hard work and dedication earned him the admiration of many employees, with some even telling him he worked harder than paid staff.
The Request for Recognition and Its Consequences
In 2023, after four years of dedicated volunteer work, Tom's mother, Frances Boyd, a charity worker from Stockport, approached Waitrose to request a small number of paid hours for Tom, as a form of recognition for his commitment and to help with his development.
Frances explained to The Times: “We weren’t after 40 or 30 or 20 hours. We said we’d accept four, three or even two – just something.”
Despite her reasonable request, the matter was escalated to Waitrose head office, where they were reportedly alarmed by the amount of unpaid work Tom had done. As a result, Waitrose informed Tom that he would not be able to work until the issue was resolved.
The Emotional Toll and Lack of Communication
For the past two months, Tom has been unable to work, leaving him without the meaningful activity he had grown fond of. His mother, Frances, had to conceal the reality of the situation from Tom to prevent distress.
“We told him the shop is being cleaned,” she shared. Frances expressed how much Tom misses helping out at Waitrose, stating that he loved going there, even though his limited language skills prevented him from communicating directly with customers.
However, she emphasized that his support workers could assist with communication if necessary.
Waitrose’s Response and Frances’ Frustrations
Frances revealed that Tom’s support workers met with staff at the store, who confirmed that Waitrose would not allow him to become a paid employee, despite his long-standing volunteer work.
Heartbroken over the turn of events, Frances has ruled out legal action but hopes that a solution can be found that allows Tom to return to work in some capacity.
She has praised the staff on the shop floor for being “amazing” and noted that the issue lies solely with the head office, which she described as “cold, harsh, big corporate” and not understanding Tom’s individuality.
Frances is now exploring other opportunities for her son, including potential work at a different supermarket or even a cleaning job, as Tom enjoys activities like dusting, vacuuming, and making beds.
Social Media Outburst and the Call for Fairness
In a post on social media, Frances expressed her frustration with Waitrose's decision, accusing the company of treating Tom unfairly.
“They told us he couldn’t be offered a job because he couldn’t 'do the full role' – yet we know for a fact there are people in the same store being paid, and they aren’t able to do every part of the job either. How is that fair?” she wrote, voicing her discontent with how the situation was handled.
She also criticized the lack of appreciation for her son's efforts: “After everything he's done, there was no apology, no thanks, and no recognition for his commitment. Just silence.”
Waitrose’s Statement and Investigation
In response to Frances’ claims, a Waitrose spokesperson stated: “We work hard to be an inclusive employer. As part of this, we partner with a number of charities, including providing work experience, and are well experienced in making reasonable adjustments to help people succeed at work.”
The company acknowledged Tom’s situation but refrained from commenting on the specific case, adding that they were investigating the matter as a priority.
Despite the statement, Frances remains determined to find a solution for her son, whether at Waitrose or another workplace, so Tom can continue doing what he enjoys.