| Comment Number: | EM-001320 |
| Received: | 3/2/2005 9:12:27 AM |
| 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:
March 2, 2005 DoD NSPS Comments , DoD NSPS Comments: The NSPS is an outright assault on basic job protections. It appears that the Department of Defense is making up rules as they go, with no input from outside sources and with little regard to labor protection laws. Protections afforded to an employee under whistle blower protection laws will erode and eventually disappear. An employee with a dissenting opinion would be more than ostracized. They would be viewed as a non-team player and fired. In my twenty plus years in budgeting and finance, I had occasionally been pressured to perform a task which would have violated federal statutes had I not resisted. Under the NSPS system, my ability to protect myself, my peers, and my organization would be compromised by an over zealous manager. The Department of Defense intends to take advantage of the most cost effective and loyal workforce in the country by deploying its civilians with little advance notice and no right of refusal without dismissal. Under NSPS I would be expected to shoulder many responsibilities without the entitlements and tax advantages enjoyed by our military or contract personnel. When I took my oath of office, I was never advised that I would be a deployable asset. Possible deployment has already strained my marriage. My spouse has stated her objection to any possible deployment that I might have to serve. No one will assume my personal responsibilities or obligations to my wife and family should I be deployed. Unlike our Military counterparts, DoD Civilians do not reside on a self-contained military post, with housing provided and a community that supports our family?s needs. I have been a top performer during my twenty-five year career. During that time I worked for an organization where I did not receive a rating in the three years that I was employed there. Working in such an organization would not only exclude me from being entitled to an increase under pay banding, it could also put my career in jeopardy if I were to grieve non receipt of an evaluation. Deployment of NSPS will only exacerbate problems that already exist. Organizations that are under resourced will not be able to retain or recruit qualified employees because critical funding will be diverted away from payroll. Implementation of NSPS coupled with the current trend to outsource and privatize the federal workforce will cause a lack of continuity and will cause a failure to be able to recruit and retain the trustworthy workforce that our Country has come to rely upon. Sincerely,