diff --git a/rq/worker.py b/rq/worker.py
index 6c351c8..a32c6d9 100644
--- a/rq/worker.py
+++ b/rq/worker.py
@@ -249,14 +249,14 @@ class Worker(object):
     def birth_date(self):
         """Fetches birth date from Redis."""
         birth_timestamp = self.connection.hget(self.key, 'birth')
-        if birth_timestamp:
+        if birth_timestamp is not None:
             return utcparse(as_text(birth_timestamp))
 
     @property
     def death_date(self):
         """Fetches death date from Redis."""
         death_timestamp = self.connection.hget(self.key, 'death')
-        if death_timestamp:
+        if death_timestamp is not None:
             return utcparse(as_text(death_timestamp))
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_worker.py b/tests/test_worker.py
index 65edead..6f89f4a 100644
--- a/tests/test_worker.py
+++ b/tests/test_worker.py
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ class TestWorker(RQTestCase):
         self.assertEquals(type(birth_date).__name__, 'datetime')
 
     def test_worker_sets_death(self):
-        """Ensure worker correctly sets worker birth date."""
+        """Ensure worker correctly sets worker death date."""
         q = Queue()
         w = Worker([q])