Comments:

February 16, 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. 

  The new rules state that if RIFs occur, the decision of whether to keep an employee will depend first on his/her performance appraisals, which are issued by supervisors. Those employees with the best ratings will be kept. Those with lesser ratings will be let go. Only in the case of a tie between employees will a worker’s seniority be considered. Before NSPS, your years of dedication to DoD counted a lot in the event of a RIF. Now it is clear that DoD doesn’t care about commitment anymore.

  Civilian Deployment: Federal employees could be assigned anywhere in the world, even into a war zone, with little or no notice. This will make it difficult for working parents who care for a family and have personal obligations at home. Is it too much to ask that I be guaranteed sufficient notice to plan for such assignments? Are all civilians going to become just like the military?

  Change Your Work Life

  Work Rules, Schedules, and Overtime Rotation: NSPS will weaken unions and the rights gained through union contracts, such as flex days, advance notice of work schedules, and overtime rotations. If an employee is disciplined by a supervisor, there will be very little chance of overturning the punishment. NSPS will allow managers to schedule employees to work without sufficient advance notice of schedule changes. This will make it extremely difficult for working parents to care for their children and family. It will also mean that abusive managers could harass employees with bad schedules or short notice. Overtime rotations can be canceled, which means that employees may not be able to plan adequately for childcare and other important responsibilities.

  
  Pure hogwash and an anti union agenda by the worse administration this country has ever had