Comment Number: OL-10503299
Received: 3/4/2005 3:54:15 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 have been a loyal Federal employee for over 17 years. I believe the new system should not be implemented as it is now. I believe change is important, but there are several things that need to be changed in this new pay system proposal. I believe information on the pay bands should be available BEFORE asking for comments on any new system, even if that means each individual military installation/location---with market research already completed--has to be evaluated beforehand. Attracting new talent is good, but how about incentives to keep current--already trained!!--talent? Demotion should not be allowed. As a single mom, this scares me. I believe in my current supervisors and in my own talent, but I still have several years to go until retirement. I certainly don't believe in every supervisor currently employeed. Find another way to make it easier to get rid of "dead weight" without violating their rights along the way, of course. I believe this new system will make it even more unattractive for new employees to work for the government. What good is attracting new talent if you leave them unprotected and without union rights? What will a manager's motivation to give promotions vs cost savings to the organization, possibly reserving funds to ensure his/her own promotion? If attracting new talent is the goal, how about steadily increasing the GS pay to match market value, and making step increases contingent upon appraisals (i.e. Quality Step Increases)? Employees should be able to appeal performance ratings to an independent grievance and arbitation process as it is now. RIF rules should continue to be balanced by performance AND an employee's committed years of service. Collective bargaining rights and grievance rights should not be taken away. Traditionally the yearly cost of living pay raise in January has been just enough to cover increased insurance premiums, believe it is very unfair to not continue this practice, since this is a prime example of the rising "costs of living". Believe the principle of changing the system is a step in the right direction, but there are many concerns that should be addressed before implementing any new system. Thank you for your time. I do hope our comments, good and bad, will be taken into consideration and adjustments made before this system is implemented.