| Comment Number: | EM-023230 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 11:26:34 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 16, 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 of the State of Alabama where I Live and the State of Mississippi where I work. I have worked for DOD for almost 26 years. I am upset 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 misusing the employees will hurt the agency. This system will change the way workers are treated by a large degree. It has been hard enough working for some people in the past. These rules would make what has been bearable at times, to impossible. Federal managers will be influenced by favoritism instead of concerns for the job, and how well it gets done. Any changes in the way this entire system works should start at the top with highly qualified unbiased sensible management people first and filtering down gradually to the real workers. But where would we find that many that quickly? If not, this is going to turn into one of the biggest toady organization that exists. Not allowing Union representation is Un-American. But oh how deftly it is worded. They will be allowed but not recognized. Webster?s Definition of Totalitarian: - of or relating to centralized control by an autocratic leader or hierarchy. - of or relating to a political regime based on subordination of the individual to the State and strict control of all aspects of the life and productive capacity of the nation especially by coercive measures - completely regulated by the State especially as an aid to national mobilization in an emergency. RIF based on performance only. Seniority does not count so that deserves a double shame on all of you. That is not a childish comment, but reality. Annual pay raises have been awarded to workers who meet the standards of their job, on the basis of seniority. No one promised it would be easy to get from one step to the next. There never was a guarantee that you would get a step increase when the time came. This incentive is taken away. Awards have for the most part been a joke to begin with. This new NSPS is supposed to improve this? Then whoever came up with this system is either determined to destroy any loyalty, or dedication that was once a cornerstone of Civil Service. Civil Service workers will now be treated like military red headed step-children. At least the military system rewards for time in service, time in grade, and testing, as well as appraisals. Civilians will have noting but biased appraisals. Can a worker be counted on when it works for an organization where you count even less than before. And it is pointless to tell anyone this. Obviously no one gets it To begin with, so how are they going to get it now, or after it is too late to change. With all the changes I would think that the agreement that we signed not to strike would also be irrelevant. You are not keeping past rules in place that were conditions when we came to work for Civil Service for a career. Why should this agreement be honored by anyone? Has it dawned on anyone that a person can leave Civil Service any time they want? Working is a two way street. If you can be fired on the spot, you can quit on the spot. Using Civil Service workers as pawns to move personnel when and where needed could backfire. If massive amounts of people quit, where can you find their replacement? This could make an unstable security system much more unstable than alternatives. What is meant by the new patronage pay system, which DOD calls ?pay for performance? Have you not had people working that way? Why are the ones who made up these new rules so determined to change a system from bad to worse? There is no logic to this. If the amount of a worker's salary depends almost completely on the personal judgment of his or her manager, then where are these mangers going to come from? What you have totally overlooked is the fact that you are encouraging the bad management that is already in place for some organization. How do you fix this? Who would correct this? How is this system doing anything for the real problems that face Civil Service. What group of people worked on this fine plan? I would be ashamed to even admit I was part of this bringing this brainstormed project to fruition. To be honest, this plan looks like one person saying ?You will do it now and these are the terms, now put it on paper for me to review. 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, but result in workers 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. And I know there will be a board to oversee what was once a union Function. Oh please, I have seen this type of actions in the past. They will not be fair I agree that there have been problems with Civil Service. Workers that are impossible to deal with due to poor performance, and the years it takes for documentation to work. I have worked in that situation as a supervisor. But isn?t this a drastic step to accomplish something that should not have been hard to accomplish all along? Civil Service must be looked upon by the decision makers as worthless free-loading, government gravy train riders that do not lift a finger to do actual work. 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. I signed up for a civilian job. I did not enlist in the military. Today?s volunteer system works well. I would be willing to bet you can garner enough volunteers with a little incentive to do whatever is necessary to be mobile. Make them part of a team of security, give them titles or a function name that sounds good, and leave the rest of us alone. I would never encourage anyone to work for Civil Service now. At one time I would. America is at war. We are fighting for democracy abroad. But the regulations are an attack on workers? basic rights. Furthermore, NSPS will divert the attention of defense workers from the soldiers? welfare to protecting themselves from abuse on the job. I urge you to force DOD to rethink this proposal. I am very upset by NSPS according to what I have researched. We need work rules that preserve fairness, serve the American people, and respect the rights of Defense Department workers. Not rules that favor some, while mistreating many. Or making long-termed dedicated workers into involuntary military by drafting, with no recourse. Sincerely, Sincerely,