mnealtx 0 #1 June 14, 2007 Full story here. Quote 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. Hope they've got plenty of funds in the PR account to fight this one... Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 43 #2 June 14, 2007 more.... http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2007/06/tennessee-apparel-corp-no-time-off-for.html and http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/NEWS07/706130410 Wednesday, 06/13/07 Woman can donate kidney after employer relents Company's new policy will allow leave for donors By CLAUDIA PINTO Staff Writer A Tullahoma-based manufacturing company has decided, after all, to allow one its workers time off to donate one of her healthy kidneys to a dying friend. Tennessee Apparel's board of directors issued a prepared statement Tuesday saying that the company's initial decision denying time off was based on federal law concerning medical leave. However, the company said that, based on its "goals as an employer," it has now decided to grant employee Pam Melson's request for time off. "Tennessee Apparel wishes Mrs. Melson, and the recipient of her kidney the best of success," the statement said. Melson, 31, broke down in tears after hearing that she will be able to help her friend, Donnie Hammack. "I want to thank them so much for reconsidering," she said. "It means a lot. At least now I can try to save a man's life." Recipient is overjoyed Hammack, 46, was overjoyed on learning he will now be able to get the transplant. "I feel great," he said. "I know it won't be long until I can do things I wasn't able to do." Hammack's kidney began to fail more than a year ago, leaving him unable to go to the bathroom and feeling constantly tired. He travels more than an hour to Columbia three times a week for dialysis, a three-hour treatment that cleans waste from his blood. There was only a 1-in-500,000 chance that Melson would be a match for a transplant. As it turned out, she proved a much better match than Hammack's own sister. The company initially said Melson could not have time off, even without pay, because she had had excessive absences from her job and the company would have to put someone in her position. Melson did not qualify for leave under the federal Family Medical Leave Act, according to Tennessee Apparel lawyers. The act requires employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave for employees "to care for a child, spouse, or parent with a serious health condition" or "for the employee's own serious health condition," among other situations. The company's initial decision drew widespread criticism after The Tennessean reported on Melson's and Hammack's plight. Tennessee Apparel's position troubled a business ethicist with Vanderbilt University, Bart Victor, who said Melson's request seemed like a small sacrifice for the company. It also bothered transplant specialists, who said more live donors are needed. Now, the company has decided to change its policy on voluntary organ donation. "Tennessee Apparel has decided to implement a new policy," the statement said. "From this day forward Tennessee Apparel will treat requests for voluntary organ donation as a request covered by FMLA leave if they meet all the other requirements for FMLA coverage." Decision wasn't easy The company said "debate has ensued within Tennessee Apparel on this topic." "On the one hand, voluntary organ donation is desirable and laudable," the statement said. "On the other hand, while Ms. Melson is voluntarily not showing up for work, her remaining co-workers would be forced to involuntarily accept her duties for her. As a result, it is not an easy decision to make." Ultimately, the company said its philosophy of being a good employer — it pays more than $500,000 a year for medical insurance for its employees — won out. Melson, who works on military pants manufactured at the company's factory in Waynesboro, Tenn., acknowledged she missed "more than a month" of work in the past 12 months. She said this was primarily so she could care for her three children. Melson is her family's sole financial provider since the discount store where her husband worked went out of business more than a year ago. She said she couldn't afford to lose her job to give away her kidney. Dr. Mark A. Wigger, a multi-organ transplant physician at Vanderbilt, said Hammack could probably survive another five years without a transplant. The national waiting list to get a kidney is anywhere from two to five years, according to Janet Jarrard, Tennessee Donor Services' public education coordinator. Jarrard says she has heard of people waiting as long as 10 years. The transplant was originally scheduled to take place at Vanderbilt this month. Medicare would pay the medical expenses of Hammack and Melson. The surgery was canceled when Melson was denied her request for a four- to six-week unpaid leave. Hammack said Tuesday: "Thank you for letting her have her time off so she can keep her job for her family.""Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #3 June 14, 2007 Good for them... and especially for her cousin!! Glad to see they came around.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #4 June 14, 2007 Quote Good for them... and especially for her cousin!! Glad to see they came around. They had to... They knew the bad PR would fuck them up. Still glad to see they made the right decision. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,184 #5 June 14, 2007 Quote Quote Good for them... and especially for her cousin!! Glad to see they came around. They had to... They knew the bad PR would fuck them up. Still glad to see they made the right decision. I expect the initial (stupid) decision was made by some middle level functionary in "Human Resources". Surprising that the VP for manufacturing didn't overrule it right away, though.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #6 June 14, 2007 Quote Quote Quote Good for them... and especially for her cousin!! Glad to see they came around. They had to... They knew the bad PR would fuck them up. Still glad to see they made the right decision. I expect the initial (stupid) decision was made by some middle level functionary in "Human Resources". Surprising that the VP for manufacturing didn't overrule it right away, though. The the other news article noted that this woman had a lot of absences, so I'm curious if her attendance record was "good" how this might have played out.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
