Porterbrook signs Dying to Work Charter

Porterbrook, the UK’s leading rail asset management company, has signed TUC’s Dying to Work Charter, as a commitment to treat its employees with fairness and dignity if they are diagnosed with a terminal illness.

The Dying to Work campaign was started by Jacci Woodcock, who felt mistreated by her employer after she disclosed her terminal cancer diagnosis.

Dying to Work is a cross-party campaign seeking additional employment protection for terminally ill workers. The campaign has been championed by MPs Pauline Latham and Jon Ashworth, as well as the TUC. The charter has been signed by hundreds of employers and now offers protections to more than one million workers in the UK. The charter lays out the right of workers to be supported and treated with empathy by their employers. It recognises that work can help maintain dignity and quality of life for people suffering from terminal illness.

Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire, said: “I am delighted the Dying to Work pledge is now supported by Porterbrook, a leading organisation in UK rail and significant employer in our region. I believe that it is of fundamental importance that we work to raise awareness of the Dying to Work campaign and get as many employers to sign up to the charter as possible.”

Mary Grant, CEO Porterbrook, said: “We are proud to sign the Dying to Work Charter to ensure that no one suffering from a terminal illness will be denied the support and dignity they deserve. As an employer it is our duty to help the members of our workforce through thick and thin and we’re delighted to help Pauline and Jacci add to the growing number of employees protected by this charter.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information about the campaign visit www.dyingtowork.co.uk

Photo caption

Picture credit: Rail Forum Midlands

Left to right: Mary Grant, Pauline Latham MP, Jacci Woodcock and Lee Barron (TUC)