| Comment Number: | OL-10503662 |
| Received: | 3/7/2005 11:07:35 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 felt for a long time that Civil Service needed reform to make it less difficult to weed out non-performers while at least tolerating some mediocrity. Rewarding high performers has always been possible but subject to the whims of the budget. Performance awards have been scarce, for example, during the current wartime conditions. Likewise, I suspect that the new system will result in "banding" and "performance management" driven by budgetary considerations more than by performance. I also see the proposed new system as being ripe for creating an army of "yes" men where conformity pays. While I have been fortunate to have worked mostly for supervisors who value constructive dissent and don't hold grudges, there are far too many who will reward conformity and punish honest dissent. I am quite certain that the new system will result in harm to a considerable number of honest, hardworking employees and have little to no impact on reducing mediocrity. I applaud the effort but am not satisfied with the proposal.