North of Tyne Combined Authority commit to TUC’s Dying to Work Charter
Campaign began in 2016 following Derbyshire sales manager losing her job after cancer diagnosis
The North of Tyne Combined Authority have today (16th December) added its name to a charter aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work.
The North of Tyne Combined Authority is the latest employer to sign up to the Dying to Work Voluntary Charter, following in the footsteps of employers such as Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire Authority and Newcastle Council.
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, an area sales manager from Derbyshire who was forced out of her job three years ago 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.
Your job should be the least of your worries when you get a terminal diagnosis.
I’m delighted that The North of Tyne Combined have shown real leadership in this area, working with unions to guarantee fair treatment for terminally-ill workers.
We are close to a million workers being covered by the Dying to Work charter across the country, and we expect more employers to commit in the coming months.
Being diagnosed with a terminal illness is about the worst thing that can happen to many people,
It can upset everything in your life, and yet a lot of people are still in work when this happens.
We’re calling for the law to be changed so that if someone is diagnosed they get protected status in their employment.
And we think all good employers can do this anyway, which is why we’re signing up to it as the North of Tyne Combined Authority.
- 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: 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 more than 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.
Contacts:
Beth Farhat
bfarhat@tuc.org.uk
Craig Dawson
cdawson@tuc.org.uk
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