Excel Learning Trust is promising protection and support for terminally ill employees as it becomes the first multi academy trust in the city to sign the TUC’s ‘Dying to Work’ charter.
The charter, which provides an agreed way in which employees will be supported, protected and guided throughout their employment, following a terminal diagnosis, is already protecting over half a million working people in the UK and this number is growing every week.
Local union representatives from TUC, GMB, UNISON and NASUWT joined the CEO of Excel Learning Trust, Mark Hassack and Katie Dent, Director of Human Resources, at the Trust offices in York to sign the charter.
By agreeing to abide by the charter, organisations promise to ensure 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.
Katie Dent, Director of Human Resources at Excel Learning Trust said “When someone faces a terminal diagnosis, it’s essential they are treated with compassion, respect, and dignity by everyone around them. This includes their employer, and at Excel Learning Trust, we are fully dedicated to supporting our colleagues and by extension, their families, through such a challenging and emotional time.
“We are proud to outline our commitment to the campaign by committing to and signing the Dying to Work Charter alongside our Trade Union colleagues.”
Working with their local trade unions, organisations must be very clear about their promise – a vague commitment is not enough. Union negotiators seek agreement that the employer will:
- Review sick pay and sickness absence procedures and include a specific statement that they will not dismiss any person with a terminal diagnosis because of their condition.
- Ensure that they have an Employee Assistance Programme that has the capacity and competency to provide support to any person with a terminal illness, including access to counselling and financial advice.
- Provide training to line managers and all HR staff on dealing with terminal illness, including how to discuss future plans with any worker who has a diagnosis of a terminal illness, and on what adaptations to work arrangements that may be necessary.
- Adopt the Dying to Work Charter and notify all employees that they have made the commitments contained in it.
Julie Toyne, York UNISON representative said “I’m delighted that Excel Learning Trust has committed to the charter. The campaign presses for additional employment protection for terminally ill workers and together, the trade unions and employers signing up to the Dying to Work charter can try to help remove any additional stress and worry.”
Further information about the Dying to Work Charter can be found on their website: https://www.dyingtowork.co.uk/
Excel Learning Trust employs over 400 members of staff across the city of York within its central team and its seven schools.
24 October 2024
Photo: Local trade union representatives pictured with Excel Learning Trust colleagues: pictured l-r: Katherine Mitchell, GMB; Julie Toyne, UNISON; Mark Hassack, CEO, Excel Learning Trust; Katie Dent, Director of HR, Excel Learning Trust; Wendy Shuttleworth, NASUWT; Sam Perry, TUC.
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