| Comment Number: | EM-017399 |
| Received: | 3/10/2005 11:15:19 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 10, 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 DoD for years. I am angry that these proposals seem to treat the employees who help defend our country as the enemy. Most DoD employees work hard and are committed. I believe that mistreating the employees will hurt the agency?s mission. I am very upset by NSPS. 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. Some (but not all) of my concerns follow: Classification - (Subpart B) 9901.201 to .231 Managers & Personnel (HR) are the ones who have made the job descriptions complex and rigid. Usually it was done to help save certain employee's from being affected by RIF's. Unions have NEVER been afforded the opportunity to ngegotiate classifications. Management DOES NOT need this in order to have flexibility. They can assign work and detail employees to different functions. There will end up being a "generalized workforce" and no one will be "specialized" at anything. I have seen nothing in any detail about Paybanding. I'm being left in the dark when it comes to that. It should be "equal pay for equal work". NOT who is the boss's favorite employee. This is going to cause alot of hate and discontent in the workforce. Employee AGAINST employee. Job descriptions can be simplified WITHOUT NSPS. This could cause an involuntary demotion depedning on how the pay band are set up. This could take me from the top of my current grade to a lower position in the established career group. What will really be expected of me?? With the broad range of duties, I could be performing one set of duties one week and another set another week. I have NOT seen nor read any rationale from DOD why these changes need to be made. I cannot understand how my classification or pay has affected national security. We will be going 30 years back!!! I expect ALL employees will have a job description that says "deployable". I have never considered myself as a military employee and did not start working for the federal govt. for that reason. PAY & PAY ADMINSTRATION & PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT Subpart C 9901.301 to .373 Subpart D 9901.401.409 Our pay has ALWAYS been based on performance the way it is now. If my performance is not up to expectations, step increases could always be held from me. Management has always had that right with the current system! This is going to hugely affect my retirement. I have been working for govt' for 25 plus years. If I'm not going to be guaranteed any more raises, why should I care about doing a good job or keep working for DOD for that reason. New people will NOT want to even come & work for the government. They will go elsewhere where it may be more fair and they can make more money. Management has always been able to reward high performers with QSI's, monetary awards and time off awards. We don't need NSPS for this! Team work will be no more! employees will be against employees. This is going to hurt the mission and hurt the soldier who is fighting for us! Instead of helping one another, some people may do everything possible to make someone else look bad! The word is going to get out and no one will want to even come & work for DOD! People want fairness. With this plan in the works, is all I'm looking forward is to an early out! All current employees that can retire SHOULD! It will be unfair to withhold a pay grade or step increase for employees who have done nothing but work their tails off and have been loyale to DOD. Where is the payoff?? employees are expected to be loyal but DOD does not! My rating already can add years of service to my seniority during a RIF. Performance should NEVER be placed above senority if that employee is doing a good job. It's all going to be based on favortism! I can be the best employee in my office, yet my manager can rate me on my attitude. That has nothing to do with anything if I'm doing a great job. Our work is very complicated and complex. It should not be based on Market value of work. I truly believe DOD is trying to save money because of this war at my expense. Why is the federal employee always the scapegoat? If this goes into affect, I will not suggest to anyone that the gov't is a good place to work. I have always been proud of my job but not anymore. People are not going to want to work for the gov't! STAFFING AND EMPLOYMENT & WORKFORCE SHAPING subpart E,9901.501 to .516 Subpart F, .6012 to .611 This will go back to the days of hiring all relatives. I can already see this being done in my area. We could see new employees earning more money than someone who's been loyal for 30 years. I did not come to work for gov't in order to be deployed (maybe to a war zone). Performance ratings already affect my senority. During a RIF, my ratings are added to my years of service. The apprasial system is already too subjective. My employment will be based soley on one person's opinion of me. That person may not like me personally...but I may be a GREAT worker. DOD does not seem to understand the difference between Military & Civilian workers. I did not want to work here to be deployed. I would have joined the military if I would have wanted that. I was hired TO SUPPORT the WARFIGHTER. ADVERSE ACTIONS Subpart G 9901.721 APPEALS Subpart H, 9901.801 to 810 DOD will be the prosecutory judge & jury. I should never be disallowed to use my union rep. You are very vague about the Mandatory Removal Offenses (MRO) that it makes this difficult to comment on. We already have table of Penalities which is used to decide the type of duration of punishment. My only recourse for disciplinary actions will be either EEO or my Congressman. You are makine it impossible for any DOD employee to have any type of justice at all. Fraud, waste & abuse will run rampant in DOD because everyone will be too afraid to say anything. I cannot EVER remember when a decision from an artbitrator or the MSPB has ever jeopardized national security and defense. If these proposals are implemented "as is" I feel that I will be a second class citizen because most of my rights will be removed. Lets go back to the "back of the bus" attitude. LABOR/MANAGEMENT RELATIONS Subpart I, 9901.901 to 929 The unions and the employees have ALWAYS done what had to be done to support the soldier. I cannot remember a time when the Negotiated AGreement or the Union has been a hinderance. Unions should have the right to bargain, not to consultation. I will never feel safe again. Managers could have the right to say or do anything to me. Our current system has worked well since 1978 and I do NOT see any reason why this needs to be changed. DOD is not following the intent of the law passed by congress! If I am going to have an investigatory examination placed upon me, I want my Union rep with me! If management is going to change working condtions of employment, I want my union rep with me. If my pay, including base and locality pay, and any annual increase is going to be changed, management & the union should negotiate any proposed changes. Your proposals are unacceptable and contraty to law. DOD is NOT and should NOT be above the law. If this goes into affect, my only thoughts are going to be of retirement out of this unfair system that we're about to be forced upon. and............I am a 25 plus year employee who is a great worker and have received several exceptional performance appraisals because of my loyalty to DOD and my job. My first goal has always been to support the soldier. I'm afraid this is all going to be compromised because of these changes. Sincerely,