Tennessee Apparel Corp: No Time Off for Kidney Donation

Again I ask: How can human beings be so cruel? Some things are more important that time cards and profits, no?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A worker at Tennessee Apparel wants to donate one of her kidneys to a relative, but the factory refuses to give her time off, even without pay.

Pam Melson, 31, has had to postpone the scheduled transplant this month for 36-year-old Donnie Hammack, who is married to Melson's distant cousin.

"They said letting me off to get this surgery would be like someone getting let off for getting breast implants," said Melson, who has worked at the factory for four years. "I think what I'm trying to do is a little more important than getting breast implants."

Dave Roberts, Tennessee Apparel's vice president of manufacturing, said the company isn't trying to discourage Melson from helping a relative.

But the Tullahoma-based company won't hold her job for her, he said.

"If she decides to do that we'll give her every consideration to come back to work," he said. "She would come back as a new employee."

As her family's sole financial provider, Melson said she can't afford to risk her job.

The woman isn't asking for time off with pay to go on a 'round the world cruise. She wants to help another human being. Profits and regulations be damned, let the woman help.

Here's the contact information for the company. Support'em if you want, castigate them if you want. I did the latter.

TENNESSEE APPAREL CORPORATION
102 Industrial Dr
Waynesboro, TN 38485
(931) 722-2400
Tullahoma office: 931-455-3491 FAX: 931-455-1209
Marilyn Hiatt, Chairman of Board -- EMAIL -- mhiatt_tac@charter.net
Ted D. Helms, President
Dave Roberts, V.P. / Manufacturing
Rick Francis, V.P. / Administration
Jim Blackwell, Controller