Comment Number: OL-10500723
Received: 2/19/2005 6:21:54 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:

I write to express my thoughts 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 since 1983 both in the military and now as a civilian. I am encouraged with what I see in the proposal. Most DoD employees work hard and are committed. I believe that the employees will be better off with a pay for performance system there is no way it can hurt the agency’s mission it can only improve the work performance of the flunkies that are sitting around and getting paid for breathing good oxygen. I am very pleased 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 work performance rather than sitting around letting a set performance system do there job for them, managers just might have to do the job there getting paid for (Lead or get out of the way). Annual Pay Raises It has been my experience that the only way an employee can receive a pay raise is to wait until Congress awarded a cost of living raise under the general schedule. Yes managers receive pay raises so they can get the highest 3 years before they retire or should I say are forced to retire because of age. Yes, DoD funds Salaries and bonuses. As recently as just last year – DoD did not fund its awards program. Given my agency’s miserable record on this issue, that’s way I feel confident that our salaries and bonuses will be better off in the future. Schedules and Overtime Some are sending you letters stating “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.” When did an employer become responsible for my children and family? It is my responsibly to take care of my family not the U.S. Government. They state that the government is like “big brother” but when it tries to change they complain about that to. Civilian Deployment Once again some are sending “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.” Yes the volunteer system works, but I work for the Federal Government and if I am needed in support of my nation then I will go and my family and my personal obligations at home will be taken care of by my spouse. A husband and wife must work hand in hand especially in today’s environment. America is at war. We are fighting for democracy here at home and abroad. I do not believe that these regulations are an attack on workers’ basic rights. Furthermore, I believe that this change has managers in the pay scale of (GS-O my god) running scared thinking that they will finally have to work for the very well paid job they have. Sincerely yours Birtram A. Beltzer