The grocery retailer has changed its decision not to offer compensated employment to an individual with autism after previously stating he had to discontinue working at the location where he had donated his time for four years.
In July, the young man's parent inquired whether her adult child her son could be given a employment opportunity at the grocery store in Cheadle Hulme, but her request was eventually rejected by Waitrose head office.
This week, rival chain the grocery chain said it wanted to offer Tom paid shifts at its Manchester location.
Responding to the company's change of position, the parent stated: "We are going to think about it and decide whether it is in what's best for our son to resume working... and are having ongoing talks with Waitrose."
A spokesman for Waitrose said: "We'd like to have Tom return, in a paying position, and are working closely from his loved ones and the non-profit to make this happen."
"We anticipate to have him return with us in the near future."
"We place great importance about assisting people into the workplace who might usually not be provided employment."
"As such, we enthusiastically received Tom and his care assistant into our local store to learn the ropes and enhance his self-assurance."
"We have guidelines in place to support unpaid work, and are investigating what's happened in Tom's situation."
The parent stated she had been "overwhelmed" by how individuals had reacted to her discussing her son's experiences.
The young man, who has challenges with communication, was praised for his commitment by managers.
"He contributed more than six hundred hours of his effort purely because he sought inclusion, be helpful, and make a difference," stated his mum.
Frances commended and appreciated team members at Waitrose's Cheadle Hulme store for assisting him, stating: "They made him part of the team and were wonderfully accommodating."
"I feel he was just not sufficiently noticed - operations were proceeding normally until it became a headquarters matter."
Both individuals have been backed by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
He stated on X that Tom had received "deeply concerning" handling and promised to "assist him to secure alternative employment that functions".
Burnham said the Greater Manchester Combined Authority "actively promotes every business - including Waitrose - to sign up to our brand new Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Practice".
Discussing with Frances, who announced of Tom's Asda job offer on BBC Radio Manchester, the elected official said: "Good on you for bringing attention because we need a huge awareness campaign here."
She accepted his invitation to become an advocate for the campaign.
A forward-thinking business strategist with over a decade of experience in market analysis and digital transformation, passionate about empowering entrepreneurs.
New
New