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Kirklees college is the latest employer in the region to sign up to the Dying to Work Charter.
Kirklees college_signing Dying to Work charter

Kirklees College signed the dying to work charter on 25 October 2022 providing protection for their 884 employees.

The Dying to Work campaign would like to see terminal illness recognised as a ‘protected characteristic’ so that an employee with a terminal illness would enjoy a ‘protected period’ where they could not be dismissed as a result of their condition.

Such protection would give every person battling terminal conditions the choice of how to spend their final months and the peace of mind to know their job was protected and the future
financial security of their family was guaranteed.

Potential effects of losing your job following a terminal diagnosis:

  • Reduced income and loss of financial security.
  • Loss of stimulation, dignity and normality associated with being in employment.
  • Undergoing an inevitably stressful and upsetting HR procedure.
  • Loss of ‘Death in Service’ and ‘Life Assurance’ payments to family members and loved ones.

For more information visit www.dyingtowork.co.uk 

This is to show Kirklees College commitment to support colleagues should they receive a terminal ill health diagnosis. This can be a time of huge emotional stress, fear and uncertainty and so signing up to this campaign will hopefully give colleagues reassurance that they will be treated with kindness, job security and dignity.

Interim HR Business Partner, Kelly Wells
Editors note

- Charter signatories: a list of Charter signatories can be found here: https://www.dyingtowork.co.uk/whos-signed/ 

- TUC Dying to Work Voluntary Charter: the charter states: 

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 

- About the TUC: The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together the 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

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