Gedling MP Vernon Coaker has added his name to a charter aimed at helping employees who become terminally ill at work.
The Dying to Work charter urges all employers to respect the wishes of those that are diagnosed with a terminal illness to continue to work should they wish to do so.
Mr Coaker MP signed up to the charter on Tuesday (12).
The Dying to Work campaign was started 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 campaign is now calling for a change in the law to prevent the same thing happening to other working people.
Mr Coaker said he believes those diagnosed with a terminal illness should have a choice as to whether they continue to work or not and their choice should be respected by their employer.
He said: “I signed the Dying to Work’ Charter as I believe there should be additional employment protection for terminally ill workers.
“Being diagnosed with a disease where there is no cure or effective treatment is traumatic enough, without employers making it difficult for those terminally ill employees to make the right decision for themselves, and very often for their families.
“It is shocking to think that people with a terminal illness are dismissed or forced out of their jobs and that their life time of hard work is often ignored, meaning their loved ones lose out on the death in service payment.
“Whether a person who is diagnosed with a terminally illness decides to stay in work or not, they should still get the best possible help and support from their employer. Terminally ill workers deserve respect and protection.
He added: “I am proud to have signed the ‘Dying to Work’ charter and I will be encouraging businesses in my constituency to follow suit.”
