| Comment Number: | EM-001367 |
| Received: | 2/24/2005 8:51:01 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:
MI 48047 February 24, 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. Annual Pay Raises Under the General Schedule and FWS, employee pay was clear. It was funded by Congress and could not be taken away. The proposed system allows for favoritism. It might prevent the federal servant of doing his/her duty in speaking up when something seems wrong. I see the first duty of the federal employee as being loyal to the United States and its citizens. He/she is obligated to identify problems in regards to safety and security as well as the allocation of resources. The proposed system is somewhat based on favoritism and reminds me of what happened in the workforce - in the late 1980s - when all of sudden the performance ratings were counted towards seniority. Many employees started to think twice before speaking up to identify problems. With the new patronage pay system, which DoD calls ?pay for performance,? the amount of a worker's salary will depend almost completely on the personal judgment of his or her manager. This system will force workers to compete with one another for pay raises, which will destroy teamwork, increase conflict among employees, and reward short-term outcomes. There is no guarantee that even the best workers will receive a pay raise or that the pay offered will be fair or competitive. This system will create a situation in which workers are in conflict with one another and afraid to speak out about harassment, violations of the law, and workplace safety problems. Furthermore, there will be no impartial appeal system to assure that everyone is treated fairly. The proposed sytem will destroy and undermine the independent thought of the civil servant. Sincerely,