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COPFS shows commitment to employees with life-limiting illness

On 24 March 2022, COPFS leaders and trade union representatives showed their commitment to supporting colleagues with life-limiting illness.

Date published

31 Mar 2022

They came together to sign the ‘Dying to Work’ charter, an initiative promoted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

COPFS leaders and union representatives outside Crown Office with the signed charter
Charter signatories from left to right: David Harvie (Crown Agent), Fiona Eadie (Secretary of FDA Trade Union, PFS Section), Ruth McQuaid (Equalities Champion and Procurator Fiscal for High Court), Linda Sommerville (Scottish TUC Secretary), Sarah Carter (HR Director), Liam Davenport (PCS Trade Union Representative)

Crown Agent David Harvie said: “I am proud that COPFS has signed this charter demonstrating our commitment to providing security, understanding and support to colleagues with a life-limiting illness. This initiative builds on our existing support for staff and shows what we can achieve for colleagues when we work in partnership with our trade unions.”

About the charter

The charter states:

  1. We recognise that terminal illness requires support and understanding and not additional and avoidable stress and worry.
  2. Terminally ill workers will be secure in the knowledge that we will support them following their diagnosis and we recognise that safe and reasonable work can help maintain dignity, offer a valuable distraction and can be therapeutic in itself.
  3. We will provide our employees with the security of work, peace of mind and the right to choose the best course of action for themselves and their families which helps them through this challenging period with dignity and without undue financial loss.
  4. We support the TUC’s Dying to Work campaign so 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.

COPFS also offers guidance and accommodations for the staff and line managers who need support when an employee is faced with a life limiting illness. To find out more about the charter, visit the Dying to Work website.