| Comment Number: | OL-10501196 |
| Received: | 2/24/2005 9:09:25 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 about the proposed NSPS system for the following reasons. First of all, the system is being presented as a solution to systematic problems such as corruption and poor performance by DOD employees. I won't deny that there are problems and corruption, but I blame poor management for not correcting the problems in their areas of responsiblity. The flaw with the proposed NSPS is that it empowers the same managers that are largely responsible for the current system's problems with correcting them as they see fit. One thing that I have observed in my tenure is that corrupt self serving managers nurture like-minded managers to take their place when they move on. Under the proposed system, these people will compensate the employees that they like, and retaliate against the ones that they don't like by not giving them raises. I am fortunate and work for men with integrity, but I am vividly aware of other sections within the Wing I'm assigned to that have developed dynasties where the torch has been passed from one self serving figure to the next, and I can assure you that raises in these sections will not be distributed based on job performance. This entire system appears to be based on the premise that the DOD is plagued by lazy employees and the only hope is to empower the managers (who are all noble and above reproach) with tools to fix the problem. This premise is flawed and offensive. There are lazy employees that have not been performing to standards, I'm not going to dispute that. I've seen such people fired by managers who have done things correctly. I've also seen some continue their employment because management has failed to take the appropriate action. The NSPS system seems to be catering to the least of managers, by rewarding their laziness and procedural flaws with an easier way to do what they want to do. The NSPS system ignores the fact that many of the problems with the current system are the result of poor management.