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The supermarket has overturned its decision not to provide a paying position to an neurodivergent person after originally indicating he had to cease volunteering at the store where he had donated his time for four years.

Earlier this year, Frances Boyd asked whether her family member the individual could be offered a position at the retail establishment in Greater Manchester, but her proposal was ultimately declined by the company's corporate office.

Recently, alternative retailer Asda said it sought to give Tom employment hours at its Cheadle Hulme store.

Responding to Waitrose's U-turn, Frances stated: "We are going to evaluate the situation and determine whether it is in what's best for our son to return... and are having additional conversations with the company."

'We are investigating'

A spokesman for the retailer stated: "We'd like to have Tom return, in a paying position, and are requesting assistance from his relatives and the non-profit to facilitate this."

"We hope to have him return with us in the near future."

"We place great importance about assisting individuals into the employment who might otherwise not be offered opportunities."

"Consequently, we gladly accepted Tom and his care assistant into our Cheadle Hulme branch to build skills and build his confidence."

"We have policies in place to support volunteering, and are investigating what's happened in this instance."

The parent explained she had been "profoundly affected" by how the public had reacted to her discussing her son's experiences.

The individual, who has challenges with communication, was commended for his dedication by supervisors.

"He donated more than six hundred hours of his energy solely because he wanted to belong, contribute, and create value," said his mum.

Frances praised and thanked staff at the local supermarket for helping him, adding: "They made him part of the team and were absolutely brilliant."

"I feel he was just not sufficiently noticed - all was running smoothly until it reached corporate level."

Tom and his mum have been supported by regional leader Andy Burnham.

He wrote on X that Tom had received "deeply concerning" management and committed to "support him to identify different opportunities that succeeds".

Burnham declared the regional organization "strongly urges each company - such as Waitrose - to sign up to our newly established Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Practice".

Conversing with Tom's mother, who broke the news of the alternative position on media outlets, the Labour mayor said: "Well done for bringing attention because we require a major education initiative here."

She agreed to his offer to act as a spokesperson for the campaign.