Comment Number: OL-10501052
Received: 2/23/2005 11:17:00 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 am concerned whether the proposal contains adequate safeguards to avoid some of the inequity (or at least the appearance of inequity) which exists within the current system. For example: Among my peers, there is widespread distrust that the current system's pay incentives are administered fairly; rather, it is percieved that incentives are awarded until the available funds are expended, with many deserving employees getting no award simply because no funds remain (i.e., the quota has been exceeded). Further, there is distrust that the funds allocated for incentives are ever adequate; e.g., the perception is that the ceiling on aggregate incentive awards is deliberately set lower than a strict merit-based system would require (in much the same way that the legislatively-mandated pay-gap increases have never been fully funded). From what I understand of the new system, there appears to be the potential for more of the same type of problems. The proposed system does indeed provide a more powerful management tool; but, like any tool, it can be used either for good or for ill. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?