Unfortunately, by the time the Housing Officer decided that it was OK, the petty officer had already made the decision to leave the Coast Guard. We lost an extremely talented young lady because the needs of our diverse workforce weren't fully considered. The petty officer was not trying to pull a fast one on the military. She was just trying to meet her obligations. Now the ship is without a second class petty officer, and the Coast Guard's workforce is one member less.
Elder care is a growing issue that needs to be considered in a diverse workforce.
Many people want or need to take care of their aging parents, and they need to be given flexible hours to accommodate their personal commitments while still getting their work done. I'm not saying that you need to give people time off carte blanche, but you do need to be flexible in their work arrangements. Some of our Coast Guard meals do not satisfy the dietary needs of all of our people. These dietary needs may not only include those of vegetarians, but also those on a low sodium or healthy diet. Certain religions also have dietary restrictions.