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Waitrose has overturned its ruling not to provide a paying position to an neurodivergent person after previously stating he had to cease working at the location where he had worked unpaid for an extended period.

During the summer, the young man's parent requested whether her adult child Tom Boyd could be provided a employment opportunity at the retail establishment in Cheadle Hulme, but her application was finally turned down by the company's corporate office.

On Thursday, rival chain Asda stated it was interested in providing Tom employment hours at its Manchester location.

Addressing Waitrose's U-turn, the parent said: "We are going to evaluate the situation and decide whether it is in what's best for our son to resume working... and are having further discussions with the supermarket."

'Looking into the matter'

A spokesman for the retailer stated: "We'd like to see Tom resume, in a paying position, and are working closely from his family and the charity to make this happen."

"We expect to see him back with us shortly."

"We are committed about supporting workers into the employment who might usually not be provided employment."

"Consequently, we enthusiastically received Tom and his helper into our Cheadle Hulme branch to build skills and develop his abilities."

"We have procedures in place to facilitate volunteering, and are reviewing the circumstances in this case."

Tom's mother explained she had been "deeply moved" by how people had responded to her discussing her son's experiences.

Tom, who has limited communication skills, was commended for his dedication by supervisors.

"He donated more than six hundred hours of his energy purely because he wanted to belong, contribute, and create value," stated his parent.

The parent recognized and acknowledged team members at Waitrose's Cheadle Hulme store for assisting him, stating: "They made him part of the team and were wonderfully accommodating."

"I believe he was just not sufficiently noticed - everything was working well until it reached corporate level."

The family have been supported by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

He posted on social media that Tom had received "deeply concerning" treatment and vowed to "assist him to identify different opportunities that functions".

Burnham stated the regional organization "actively promotes all employers - like Waitrose - to register to our newly established Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Practice".

Discussing with Frances, who announced of Tom's Asda job offer on local radio, the public figure said: "Good on you for highlighting the issue because we require a significant public information effort here."

She accepted his proposal to act as a spokesperson for the program.