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The grocery retailer has overturned its determination not to provide a paying position to an autistic man after originally indicating he had to cease stacking shelves at the store where he had donated his time for an extended period.

In July, the young man's parent requested whether her family member her son could be given a position at the retail establishment in the Manchester area, but her proposal was finally turned down by the company's corporate office.

This week, competing supermarket Asda said it wanted to offer Tom paid shifts at its Manchester location.

Addressing the supermarket's reversal, Tom's mother said: "We are going to consider the offer and determine whether it is in Tom's best interests to return... and are having further discussions with Waitrose."

'Looking into the matter'

A spokesman for Waitrose stated: "We'd like to welcome Tom back, in paid employment, and are working closely from his loved ones and the non-profit to facilitate this."

"We hope to have him return with us very soon."

"We are committed about supporting people into the workplace who might typically not be given a chance."

"Therefore, we warmly welcomed Tom and his care assistant into our Cheadle Hulme branch to build skills and build his confidence."

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

Tom's mother stated she had been "overwhelmed" by how people had reacted to her discussing her family's story.

The young man, who has limited communication skills, was recognized for his dedication by supervisors.

"He gave more than six hundred hours of his time exclusively because he sought inclusion, be helpful, and make a difference," said his parent.

Frances commended and appreciated staff at the Manchester branch for assisting him, noting: "They welcomed him and were absolutely brilliant."

"I feel he was just flying under the radar - operations were proceeding normally until it became a headquarters matter."

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

He wrote on social media that Tom had received "truly terrible" handling and vowed to "help him to secure alternative employment that succeeds".

The official said the local government body "strongly urges each company - like Waitrose - to sign up to our recently launched Bee Neuroinclusive Code of Practice".

Conversing with Tom's mother, who announced of Tom's Asda job offer on BBC Radio Manchester, the Labour mayor commented: "Congratulations for highlighting the issue because we require a significant public information effort here."

She accepted his offer to become an advocate for the initiative.