Central College Nottingham signs up to TUC’s new charter for helping terminally ill workers

Central College Nottingham signs up to TUC’s new charter for helping terminally ill workers

Central College Nottingham will sign up to a new charter today (Wednesday 29 June at 1.30pm) aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work.

The signing, which will take place at the College’s Ruddington Centre, will be attended by college Principal Malcolm Cowgill and Vice Principal Organisational Development, Debbie Duggan along with Lee Barron, Midlands Regional TUC Secretary.

The Dying to Work Voluntary Charter is a TUC initiative which sets out how employers can support terminally ill workers following their diagnosis.

It is part of the TUC’s wider Dying to Work campaign which is seeking to change the law to secure terminally ill workers a ‘protected period’ where they cannot be dismissed as a result of their condition.

Dying to Work was set up 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.

In the absence of legislative protection, the TUC is asking employers to sign up to its voluntary charter to stop cases like Jacci’s happening in the future.

Debbie Duggan, Central College Vice Principal said: “Central College has a history of supporting employees who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and their families. We recognise how important is it to provide security of work and peace of mind to our employees and to work with them to agree working arrangements which are both manageable and beneficial. We are pleased to sign up to the Dying to Work Voluntary Charter and we hope more employers do so.”

Lee Barron, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary said: “Worrying about your job should be the least of your concerns when you receive a terminal diagnosis.

Central College Nottingham has shown real leadership in this area, working with unions to guarantee fair treatment for workers who find themselves in this position.  Hopefully more employers will now follow Central’s lead by signing the Dying to Work Charter and supporting our campaign for greater employment protection for terminally ill workers.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The TUC Dying to Work Voluntary Charter states the following:
1. We recognise that terminal illness requires support and understanding and not additional and avoidable stress and worry.
2. Terminally ill workers will be secure in the knowledge that we will support them following their diagnosis and we recognise that safe and reasonable work can help maintain dignity, offer a valuable distraction and can be therapeutic in itself.
3. We will provide our employees with the security of work, peace of mind and the right to choose the best course of action for themselves and their families which helps them through this challenging period with dignity and without undue financial loss.
4. We support the TUC’s Dying to Work campaign so that all employees battling terminal illness have adequate employment protection and have their death in service benefits protected for the loved ones they leave behind.
 
- More information about the Dying to Work campaign can be found at www.dyingtowork.co.uk
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @The_TUC and follow the TUC press team @tucnews