A young man with autism was removed from his position as a volunteer at the Waitrose supermarket, in United Kingdomafter his mother asked if he could start receiving a salary. The story generated public outrage and had an unexpected twist: a rival network hired him.
Tom Boyd28 years old, had worked since 2021 at the branch of Waitrose at Cheadle Hulme, near Manchester. For more than three years he carried out replenishment tasks, organizing shelves and controlling products, without receiving a salary, within a community support program for people with disabilities.
His mother, Frances Boydsaid that Tom loved his job and felt part of the team. So when she racked up hundreds of volunteer hours, she decided to ask if she could access some paid hours. «We didn’t want a full contract, just recognition. But instead, they fired him»he said, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Shortly after their consultation, the family received a call informing them that Tom was no longer supposed to show up anymore.. Frances assured that there was no clear explanation or thanks for her commitment. The news sparked a wave of criticism of the company for its handling of the case.
Asda offered him a paid job
Faced with the repercussions, the rival chain Asda contacted the Boyds and offered Tom a paid position, with flexible five-hour shifts, twice a week, tailored to his needs. «He is happy. They treated him with respect and gave him the opportunity he deserved»said his mother.
Tom’s mother asked for her son to be paid and they kicked him out. Photo: BBC BreakfastWaitrose, for its part, issued a statement saying regret the situation and stated that it will review the case internally: “We greatly value our volunteers and want to support Tom if he decides to return.”
The episode ignited debate in the United Kingdom about the limits of unpaid work and the lack of real workplace inclusion for neurodivergent people. For Frances, the teaching was clear: “My son didn’t need charity, he needed dignity”.
Neurodivergence and work in the United Kingdom
In the UK, neurodivergent people are protected by the Equality Act 2010which prohibits employment discrimination and requires employers to make “reasonable accommodations” to ensure inclusion. These changes can range from making schedules more flexible to adapting selection processes or work environments.
However, specialists point out that The practical application of these standards remains uneven. Although a formal diagnosis is not required to access protections, many companies do not know how to implement effective inclusion policies or underestimate the impact of the invisible barriers faced by neurodivergent people.
Despite legal advances, employment rate among neurodivergent workers remains considerably lower than that of the rest of the population.
The Waitrose that expelled the young man with autism. Photo: Google MapsThe debate in the British legislature and in the employment courts today aims to close that gap and ensure that inclusion does not depend only on the good will of companies, but on concrete and sustained policies.
