Nottingham City Council have today (Wednesday 12 June) added its name to a charter aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work.
The Council is the latest employer to sign up to the Dying to Work Voluntary Charter, following in the footsteps of employers such as E-On, Legal and General and the Co-op.
The Charter is part of the TUC’s wider Dying to Work campaign which is seeking greater security for terminally ill workers where they cannot be dismissed as a result of their condition.
- Dying to Work was taken forward by the TUC following the case of Jacci Woodcook, a 58-year-old sales manager from Derbyshire, who was forced out of her job after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
The TUC is asking employers to sign up to its voluntary charter to stop cases like Jacci’s happening in the future.
Councillor Toby Neal, Portfolio Holder for Community and Customer Services at Nottingham City Council, said: “This is a positive step taken by the council to look after employees who become terminally ill at work. The Charter will provide people with job security and peace of mind when they need it most and they will know they have our full support. We are proud to have signed up to this charter and by doing so, we want to inspire other employers in the city to follow in our footsteps.”
Christina Sanna, UNISON said “Nottingham City UNISON is really pleased to be signing the TUC Dying to Work Charter alongside colleagues from Unite and GMB, and the City Council. It will mean that our members will be treated with the dignity, care and respect they deserve when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness. Knowing that they will have employment, and death in service benefit, protection will give them peace of mind and avoid needless stress and worry.”
Carol Starr, Unite: “Unite welcomes the approach through the charter to offer employees the peace of mind that in difficult times their job is protected. No one with a terminal illness should have to deal with the additional stress of losing their job and livelihood as a result of their condition.”
Ian Passey, GMB: “GMB are delighted to sign and witness the signing of the Dying to work charter with Nottingham City Council that will support all workers in the authority who become Terminally ill. This campaign was started by Jacci Woodcock a terminally ill GMB member in Derby, who is fighting to improve workers’ rights for all who are terminally ill and want to work.”
Lee Barron, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary, said: “It is great news that Nottingham City Council have become the latest employer to commit to the Dying to Work Charter. Worrying about your job should be the least of your concerns when you receive a terminal diagnosis.
“Over a 330,000 workers across the UK are now covered by the Charter, a tremendous achievement in a little over a year since the first Charter was signed. There is real momentum behind the campaign as we work to secure the dignity and protection that all terminally ill workers deserve.
“We hope and expect more employers to follow the Council’s lead and sign the Charter as we take the campaign into more workplaces across Nottingham, the East Midlands and, indeed, across the UK.”