Dying To Work Gets Council Support

Campaign began in 2016 after a Derbyshire sales manager lost her job following cancer diagnosis

The local authority is the latest employer to sign up to the Dying to Work Voluntary Charter, following in the footsteps of employers such as Rolls Royce, Royal Mail 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, 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.

Yvonne Stewart, Assistant General Secretary - Operations and Equality, said: "The STUC welcomes North Lanarkshire Council's decision to sign the Dying to Work Charter. The value of such a public commitment to protect the rights of workers who receive a terminal diagnosis cannot be over-estimated. This commitment helps to provide much-needed reassurance - at a time when workers and their families are at their most vulnerable."  

Cllr Jim Logue, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: "We have always tried to support our workers in the best way we can and by signing the Dying to Work campaign we have made a clear commitment to all our staff that they will be treated with dignity and respect should they receive a terminal diagnosis.

"It's shocking that there is currently no protection from dismissal for people with terminal illnesses and I would call on the Scottish and UK governments to legislate to address this issue."

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