Comments:

February 17, 2005

  DoD NSPS Comments

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   DoD NSPS Comments:

  I write to express my concerns about changes to work rules in the Department of Defense (DoD).  The proposed regulations, known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), were printed in the Federal Register on February 14, 2005.  This message will be sent to both DoD and my representatives in Congress. 

  I have worked for DoD for 11 years and I'm very concerned that this new system wasn't thought out very well, and is certainly not a system that is beneficial to the civilian workforce.  In case you don't know, there are a lot of managers out there, both military and civilian, that have no interest in "taking care of" their employees.  I've worked for a few myself - they have their "favorites", those they wouldn't give the time of day to, and those they actually despise.  These feelings normally don't have anything to do with the employee's work ethic or capabilities, but rather are based on personal, very subjective, feelings and personal preferences.  While it is very hard to continue to do a good job for the government when you have to work for people like this, you never had to feel your job and livelihood were threatened.  You knew you had the protection of the GS system and the union regulations.  The new system doesn't offer that level of job security.  Unless all managers and commanders are required to undergo personality changes and be given inordinate wisdom and a sense of fairness, how is this new system going to be even-handed
and fair to all? 

  Government employees are hard- working, motivated people and they realize how critical they are to the entire DoD mission.   They are the often-times the only "continuity" in any given office, when military personnel are either in training or deployed.  To threaten their own security by implementing this system amounts to a slap in the face.

  The GS system may have its issues, but it works.  It doesn't reward or protect poor performance; it does protect good employees from unfair management practices.

  Isn't it true that sometimes change is made because some bureaucrat has time during a work day to sit and ponder the "big picture" and make a change just for change's sake?  It happens far too often. 

  This system will change the way workers are paid, evaluated, promoted, fired, scheduled, and treated.  These rules would create a system in which federal managers are influenced by favoritism rather than serving the civil concerns of the American people.  

  I urge you to force DoD to rethink this proposal.  We need work rules that preserve fairness, serve the American people, and respect the rights of Defense Department workers.