| Comment Number: | EM-023243 |
| Received: | 3/15/2005 8:09:57 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 15, 2005 DoD NSPS Comments , DoD NSPS Comments: I am writing 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. This nw NSPS personnel system just tells us how much none of you care about us or what happens to us. 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. There's already a problem with favoritism, but there are at least rules to try to protect us. Annual Pay Raises Under the General Schedule and FWS, employee pay was clear. It was funded by Congress and could not be taken away. However, NSPS will take away this certainty. Salaries and bonuses are funded by DoD. In the past ? as recently as just last year ? DoD did not fund its awards program. Given the agency?s miserable record on this issue, how can employees feel confident that our salaries and bonuses will be funded in the future? ?Friend of the Supervisor? Pay System 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. How do you expect us to feel we will be able to speak out about sexual harassment, discrimination, etc., without reprisal. We'll be fairgame for management. What about the bad managers we have to work for and deal with. Believe me, there ARE bad managers in the DoD. What about the military managers who don't like civilians and don't like women? Do you honestly think we can expect any kind of raise or bonus? Get real here. 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. Are you trying to toally destroy the morale of every person working for the DoD? Plus, how do you expect to attract young, talented people who will want to make the government a career? 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. I didn't agree to go into war zones when I signed on to work for the goverrnment. The military sign on to commit to fight to protect our country during times of war - not civilians. And WHY wouldyou want to put us in danger of being killed or physiclly disabled? Are you, our congressmen and senators, going to be transferred to war zones to support the DoD and the military? I rather doubit it. 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. We need work rules that preserve fairness, serve the American people, and respect the rights of Defense Department workers. I have worked for the DoD for 38 years and I have always been a VERY loyal and hardworking employee. I can retire in a couple of years and get out before I can be hurt, but I am still very unhappy with the plan to take away our rights. Are we nothing more than just a bunch of mice in a controlled environment to all of you? Why are you doing this to us? Changes made to civil service never impact or hurt our congressmen and sentors. We look to you for fairness and to protect us as American's. Is the new NSPSyour way of showing us how much you don't respect the work we are doing to support our country? Well, the message is loud and clear. I hope every DoD employee takes a hard look at who is voting for this new system when it's time to vote again. Sincerely,