Comment Number: OL-10502136
Received: 3/1/2005 9:15:10 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 have 32 1/2 years in Federal Service. I have worked hard and attained a GS-10 and hope to maintain my grade until I retire. I can personally attest to the observance of fair haired children in my Activity, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA. Lawmakers don't realize what the little people go thru in their daily lives: Sexual harrasment, discrimination, favoritism... but it is endurable because I KNOW I have some semblence of recourse, if I choose. The NSPS will not encourage managers to embrace these changes. It will only make it easier to reward their yes-men and ignore, if not worse, the ones that dare to think differently. Yes, in a perfect world, this system would be one to fit the 21st century. If it were a system with no comparison, it might work well in the Gov't workforce. However, because we do support the military and most management and military higher echelon are male, they will run roughshod over their civilian workers. I have only come to realize this since I started work at SOS, Newport News, VA. Machismo was not the prevailing attitude at other organizations at which I worked. It was a pull-together, we are all in this together ethic that made us work harder and smarter. There will be less pride, more low self-esteem and low morale with this new system. I suspect the people writing these changes do not have a 3 decade career with the Federal Service or they would see through this rhetoric and realize the problem is not in the system but those who are implementing it. I know this is emotionally driven and does not address each issue. There are enough people writing to you eloquently explaining those reasons. I wanted to give my feelings as an insider: a proud public servant who is afraid of losing my job. Thank you for your time. Carole Neider