The launch of the EMPLOY Charter
Breast Cancer Care’s guide to best practice in the workplace
Breast Cancer Care is launching the EMPLOY charter across the UK in May, June and July 2008. The charter uses each letter for the word EMPLOY to provide employers with guidance on best practice in supporting staff members who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer. The charter also sets out the legal employment rights of cancer patients and the corresponding responsibilities that fall to employers under disability discrimination law. The accompanying materials will be of use to both employers and employees.
The charter follows on from a survey a 2006 survey of 417 breast cancer patients on employment issues and a focus group with secondary breast cancer patients in 2008
We are holding a series of launch events for the charter:
Glasgow; Monday 12th May, 5.30-7.30pm
Jury’s Inn, 80 Jamaica Street, Glasgow, G1 4QG
Panellists and speakers will include;
• Margaret Curran MSP; Labour Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
• Katy Wedderburn; Partner, MacRoberts Solicitors
• Tom Gorman; Senior Projects Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support
• Lorraine Dallas; Assistant Director of Services, Breast Cancer Care Scotland
• Sandra Dickie; Breast Care Nurse, Breast Cancer Care Scotland
Fiona Wilson will speak from the patients’ perspective
London; Thursday 5th June, 5.30-7.30pm
Thames Suite, London Chambers of Commerce, 30 Queen Street, London, EC4R 1AP
Panellists and speakers will include;
• The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
• Claire Murray, Managing Partner, CM Murray LLP
• Frank Pitfield, Customer Service Manager, Department for Work and Pensions
• Dr Emma Pennery, Clinical Director, Breast Cancer Care
• Linda Kelly, Assistant Director of Human Resources, Breast Cancer Care
Carolyn Hall will speak from the patients’ perspective
Cardiff; Tuesday 24th June, 6-8pm
Rooms 22 & 23 Crickhowell House, the Assembly Office building, Cardiff
Panellists and speakers will include;
• Val Lloyd AM, Member for Swansea East
• Geraldine Prichard, Welfare Rights Officer, Tenovous
• Gail Hughes, Clinical Nurse Specialist
• HR specialist (tbc)
Emma Burns will speak from the patient’s perspective and contribute as an employment solicitor
Sheffield, Thursday 10th July, 5.30-7.30pm
Mercure Hotel, 119 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JE
Panellists and speakers will include;
• Diana Luke, Broadcaster/therapist
• Kath McLachlan, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Breast Cancer Care
• Nicola Johnston, Associate, Pinsent Masons LLP
• A welfare and benefits specialist (tbc)
• HR expert (tbc)
Carol Arthur will speak from the patients’ perspective
These events are open to both employers and employees. They will provide attendees with the opportunity to find out more about the EMPLOY Charter and an opportunity to ask questions of an expert panel on breast cancer and employment. Panel members will include welfare and benefits specialists, employment law specialists, breast care nurses as well as individuals who will be speaking from a patient’s perspective.
The EMPLOY materials which we are launching at these events will be available from May onwards. We will post more information on how to access copies of these materials once they are available.
If you are interested in attending any of these events or would just like to find out more information, please contact Chris Quince, Policy and Campaigns Assistant; 0207 960 3569, <script type=“text/javascript”>eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%63%68%72%69%73%71%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%22%3e%63%68%72%69%73%71%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’))</script>