Comment Number: OL-10501702
Received: 2/27/2005 7:27:43 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:

I am sending these comments in regards to the new "National Security Personnel System (NSPS)." I don't know how many of the authors, designers of the system, or current Congressional Representatives have any military service. Many of these people think that the existing system is obsolete and that change is long overdue, that may very well be, however it seems to me that one of the considerations being overlooked is that one of the intents of the system was to provide Veterans employment oportunities with the Federal Government. I am one of those Veterans, I have served in the Navy in an active duty and Reserve status during VIETNAM, DESERT STORM, and was recalled twice for IRAQI FREEDOM. I started in Federal Service in 1987, using the Veterans Readjustment Act (VRA Program). I used this oportunity and worked hard trying to learn, and move up / promote. After ten years I applied for and was hired in another department with hopes of further oportunities, and promotion. However, I ended up locked in at a GS9 Step 10 for nearly ten years receiving only cost of living increases. Oportunities for promotion have been hindered by a few rounds of Reduction In Force, BRAC's, Cost Analysis Studies, reorganizations under the MEO Most Efficient Organization. In the last six years the department I am in has been cut to a third of it size, and has the same workload. We went from having a Manager, and three Team Leads down to one Lead who is not designated as a Supervisor. With yet another upcoming reorganization we may end up merging with another department, ending up under a Supervisor who does not know us or what we do, but may end up signing our evaluations. Since this person already has personnel assigned who do you think will be taken care of? Which leads me to this new system that claims that "Employees will receive Annual Performance Evaluations, and only those who are given satisfactory marks will get raises or promotions. The evaluations would also be used to determine which employees are laid off". There are some similarities to the old system prior to the current Pass / Fail system. Where I regularly received Outstanding Performance Evaluations, which at least entitled you to a small cash award, but more importantly it put you in a better standing in the event of a RIF. Of course the more "Outstanding Performance Evaluations" you had the better off you were.Being a Veteran also helped. When the recent Pass / Fail System was implemented, all the previous performance effort was negated, it no longer counted. If this new system is implemented consideration should be given to restoring recognition of past Outsatnding Performane Efforts / Awards. The biggest weakness with any of these systems has always been and will always be lack of documentation, failure of Management to conduct Mid Term reviews / Counseling, and any other counseling / warnings as necessary accompanied with documentation. Additionally, and in closing I don't know about many other locations, but about ten years ago I started noticing that there were few employees under the age of forty, now ten years later it's fifty. Currently, of the personnel remaining there seems to be a significantly large number of people within five years of retirement, and few young people coming in. What is going to happen in the next five to ten years when the fifty year olds I mentioned are retired or gone? Is this an oversight, or part of a plan that is not shared with any of the employees I know? Allot of us have been subjected to Training Seminars over the years paid for by the Government / Taxpayers talking about empowerment, taking ownership, and the effects of change. My understanding when it comes to change is to bring people on board, make them aware, have them buy into and take part of it. When you don't follow through, and send people again and again it works less and less until it does not work. It's really very frustrating, stressfull, and disheartening.