BREMERTON, Wash. –
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility leaders and employees signed C.A.R.E. pledges and banners during two events at locations throughout the shipyard May 18.
C.A.R.E, which stands for character, action, respect and engagement, involves employees voluntarily signing a pledge to respect every individual and to take action if they see or hear harassment or discrimination. Those who signed the pledge each received a C.A.R.E. sticker authorized for display on the outside of their hardhat, a mental health resources sticker for the inside of their hardhat, and a card with information on how to report harassment and discrimination.
The pledge campaign first started at PSNS & IMF with a kickoff event Nov. 20, 2019, sponsored by the Command Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Team (CAHADT). Several thousand employees signed the pledge during the inaugural event. The idea for the pledge came from an employee suggestion to CAHDT.
Jenna McGrath, project superintendent, Code 335, USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735) Project, volunteered at one of the pledge signing locations because she said the command’s efforts to prevent harassment and discrimination mean a lot to her. McGrath also demonstrates her commitment to the issue as the Employee Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Team co-champion.
“It’s personally important to me to represent these values every day,” McGrath said. “As a shipyard community, it’s important that we support each other.”
The C.A.R.E. pledge is one of several ongoing efforts at the shipyard to ensure every employee is treated with dignity and respect. Others include the establishment of an anonymous hotline and email address for employees to report harassment or discrimination, and improvements to the investigative process.
Grace McMorris, material expeditor, Code 530, Project Support Division, stopped to sign her name to a C.A.R.E. pledge banner on her way to grab lunch.
“It shows that we care and are going to respect every individual in the workplace, and I stand by that,” said McMorris. “I want to be part of the change in the culture.”
Initiatives such as the C.A.R.E. pledge events are an opportunity for employees to actively show their support for a safe shipyard environment where every member of the workforce is empowered to reach their full potential.
“Today’s pledge signing was a great way to reaffirm our commitment to the C.A.R.E. Pledge and the expectation to respect every individual,” said Capt. Jip Mosman, commander, PSNS & IMF. “Signing the pledge is just one way we show alignment that we support a workplace free from harassment and discrimination where every employee is empowered to reach their full potential. Thank you to the Command Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Team for their work putting this together.”
For a full listing of anti-harassment and anti-discrimination resources, see the May 13 edition of Salute available at dvidshub.net/publication/issues/58148.