| Comment Number: | EM-001277 |
| Received: | 2/22/2005 9:05:46 PM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
February 22, 2005 DoD NSPS Comments, 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 a number of years within DOD as a military person and I now proudly work within DOD as a civil servant to the people with whom I had sworn to protect. After learning of and hearing about the proposal submitted by NSPS. I am angry that this proposal seem to treat federal employees, who through their unseen and often unappreciated dedicated efforts, help defend the country in which they are now being "viewed" as the enemy. I take offense to what is happening. DoD employees work hard and is committed to insuring that the trust and responsibilities betowed upon them through public trust is not in vain and I strongly believe that in turn with that trust. Federal employees deserve professional and eithically fair managers to "manage" and not abuse through lack of proper skills, the workforce which makes up the federal government. I also believe that the proposal will hurt the federal workplace through a failure of misplaced (Human Resources) bludders. Hired managers cannot recoqnize the "human" resourse, they only see the "power" of authority and the fortification of ones own area. No "Trained" leader nor manager would ever expect any worker to want to "give" years of their educational knowledge and or general experience to an agency which utilizes unskilled "managers" who through unethical methods. Creates and reinforces sub-level mini-workplace societies which keeps some groups of workers "outside" of the workplace loop while praising "other" workers with unfounded awards. The dangers of such a thing is far reaching and harmful to the well being of all concerned. This proposal changes the way workers will look upon each other (Pay, Shedules, Evaluations, Promotions, and or being Fired) and are how they will preceived their overall treatment by the mangerial staff. This proposal legalizes some methods utilized by current managers to influence employees behavior in the workplace, through management favoritism and employee intimidation rather than serving the civil concerns of the American people through ethical behavior. Annual Pay Raises Under the General Schedule and FWS, employee pay was clear. It was funded by Congress and could not be taken away. However, NSPS will take away this certainty. Salaries and bonuses are funded by DoD. In the past ? as recently as just last year ? DoD did not fund its awards program. Given the agency?s miserable record on this issue, how can hardworking employees feel confident that managers will recoqnize their hardwork and consider their efforts?Current managers are only for just themselves and not the workforce. ?Friend of the Supervisor? Pay System With the new patronage pay system, which DoD calls ?pay for performance,? the amount of a worker's salary will depend almost completely upon the personal judgment of his or her manager. This system will force workers to compete in negative ways over "possible" pay raises, and under proposed new managerial ehancements. This will utterly destroy workplace teamwork. There is no guarantee that even the best workers will receive a pay raise and or that the pay offered them will be fair or competitive. This proposed system will create a situation in which workers who through observation and personal contact with untrained managers, who utilizes unethical workplace methods. To lose faith with a system which prides itself into saying, " A fair pay for an honest days' work and a "level" playing field for "each" of us to "compete" and grow on"! That's the American dream, that's the rightful American way! The ripple effect of this proposal will have far reaching affects much more than just any "local" office. It will reach and touch those men and women who are in harms way! Federal workers are in conflict with one another as it is, due impart to "bad" inplace managers who makes the worker afraid to speak out about harassment, violations of the law, and workplace safety problems. Furthermore, now with this proposal, there will be no impartial appeal system to assure that "everyone" is treated fairly within the "same" government which prides itself with being fair and humane? Schedules and Overtime 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. Civilian Deployment Federal employees could be assigned anywhere in the world, even into a war zone, with little or no notice. I am proud to have served my country but I am also responsible now for caring for my family and my personal obligations to them at home. I signed up for a civilian job. As I did not reenlist into the military. Today?s volunteer system works well. America is at war. We are fighting for democracy abroad. But the regulations here at home are being attacked! Workers? basic rights. Furthermore, NSPS is diverting the attention of defense workers from soldiers? welfare to protecting themselves from abuse on the job. 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 Department of Defense workers. Sincerely,