| Comment Number: | EM-017507 |
| Received: | 3/10/2005 2:38:50 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:
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 passed out for review and comment. I have worked for DoD for 32 years. I am angry that these proposals seem to treat the employees who help defend our country as the enemy. I cannot believe that the proposed personnel system could do anything but hurt morale and productivity. There is NO provisions for a high-achieving employee to keep from getting 'screwed'. As well, nothing exists to keep the deadwood from getting raises that should go to the stellar emplooyees - if the deadwood has an "in" with his or her supervisor. This is terrible. How do you prevent a rationing of pay raises and still control the budget. Is there anything that say all employees deserve a raise? This system is moving toward a 'award program' scenario - and that would severely damage the countries most dedicated workforce...even in times of sensitive security issues. Furthermore, there will be no impartial appeal system to assure that everyone is treated fairly. 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 serve my country but I am also responsible for caring for my family and my personal obligations at home. We signed up for a civilian job. We did not enlist in the military. Today?s volunteer system works well. With America at war, this is not the time to declare war on the very people that employ their expertice to protect their country on a daily basis. Sincerely,