​​​​​​​Legal & General signs up to TUC’s Charter for helping terminally ill workers

date: Thursday September 8th 

Legal & General signs up to TUC’s Charter for helping terminally ill workers

Insurance giant Legal & General will sign up to a new charter today aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work.

The signing, which will take place at Legal and General Offices at 12pm, will be attended by Alexandra Clayton, HR Director at Legal and General, Beth Wells, UNITE Legal & General representative, and TUC Regional Secretary Lee Barron from the TUC.

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 greater security for terminally ill workers through a ‘protected period’ where they cannot be dismissed as a result of their condition.

Other employers to sign up to the charter include the energy company E-On, local authorities Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Harrow Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, the Housing Association Nottingham City Homes, the passenger shipping company Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and the food processing company AB Produce.

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.

The TUC is asking employers to sign up to its voluntary charter to stop cases like Jacci’s happening in the future.

Legal & General HR Director Alexandra Clayton said:

 “As a leading life insurer, health is a big part of Legal & General’s business and we are committed to lead by example with the help, support and benefits we offer our colleagues particularly at very uncertain times and when they need it the most.

“We are delighted to be signing this charter to help encourage others and bring about positive change”.

UNITE Legal & General Representative Beth Wells said: “Signing the TUC’s Dying to Work charter is the start of a moral journey. Unite members at Legal & General are passionate about this campaign.

“We need to change the way society approaches and thinks about terminally ill people in their community and within their workplace. I would like other companies to join us, let’s make a change as it could be you, me or a member of our own family impacted.

TUC Regional Secretary Lee Barron said: “Worrying about your job should be the least of your concerns when you receive a terminal diagnosis. We are delighted that Legal & General have become the first insurance company to sign up to the TUC’s Dying to Work Charter, working with unions to guarantee fair treatment for workers who find themselves in this position.  

“Growing numbers of employers are now realising that the current system leaves terminally ill workers in a vulnerable position. By signing the Charter, Legal & General have extended protection and peace of mind to their workforce. We trust that more companies will follow Legal & General and sign the Dying to Work Charter.”

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
- The signing will take place at Legal & General Group Plc, Legal & General Investment Management, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA