City of Wolverhampton Council is the latest employer to sign up to the ‘Dying to Work’ Voluntary Charter – following in the footsteps of companies such as E-On, Legal and General and the Co-op.
The charter is aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work.
The Charter was signed on April 24 by Keith Ireland, Managing Director, Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Governance, Councillor Paul Sweet, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Adrian Turner, Unison branch secretary and Lee Barron, Midlands TUC regional secretary.
Cllr Sweet said: “This is a positive step taken by the council to look after employees who become terminally ill at work.
“Our employees shouldn’t have to worry about their job security at such a time and should know they have our full support. We are proud to have signed up to this charter and hope by doing so, we inspire other employers in the city to follow in our footsteps.”
Adrian Turner added: “Unison welcomes the fact the council have agreed to adopt the TUC ‘Dying to Work’ campaign. This charter will protect all employees and note absences taken due to terminal illness will be automatically disregarded.”
The Charter is part of the TUC’s wider ‘Dying to Work’ campaign, which is seeking greater security for terminally ill workers so they cannot be dismissed because of their condition.
Lee Barron, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary, said: “It is great news that City of Wolverhampton Council has become the latest employer to commit to the ‘Dying to Work’ Charter. Worrying about your job should be the least of your concerns when you receive a terminal diagnosis.
“Over 330,000 workers across the UK are now covered by the charter, a tremendous achievement in a little over a year since the first charter was signed. There is real momentum behind the campaign as we work to secure the dignity and protection that all terminally ill workers deserve.
“We hope and expect more employers to follow the council’s lead and sign the charter as we take the campaign into more workplaces across the Black Country, the West Midlands and, indeed, across the UK.”
Image caption (L-R): Back row – Keith Ireland, City of Wolverhampton Council Managing Director, and Lee Barron, Midlands Regional TUC Secretary. Front row – Councillor Milkinder Jaspal, and Adrian Turner, Branch Secretary Unison