Comment Number: OL-10504376
Received: 3/9/2005 11:04:09 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:

First, I request that another public notice and comment period be conducted after the details of the NSPS plan are determined. The additional public notice and comment period should be provided before NSPS is implemented since there is not enough detail in the current notice to determine if the plan is in the best interest of the public and national security. The NSPS, as proposed, has all of the characteristics of G. Orwell’s book “Animal Farm”. The plan gives ultimate power and benefit to management while removing power from the employees. My background is as a manager in “corporate America” and as a past manager I believe that an appeal board above the first level managers will not provide an impartial review for an employee that feels their evaluation is not fair. If fact in 9901.409(g) the NSPS document states, “A payout determination will not be subject to reconsideration procedures”. Therefore, for payout determinations there is no review. The document should be changed to allow for appeal of payout determinations. I have worked in DOD for 13 years and took a substantial cut in pay to get into the federal system. I was attracted by the stability of the government and the ability to determine what GS level I could be in years to come. I have received the top performance rating available every year I have worked for the government and have always been one of the top producers in my branch. Although the new system may benefit me financially under my current supervisor, the pay increase will not be worth the conflict that the NSPS will cause between my fellow employees and my supervisors. Currently, we have one unproductive employee in my office. However, he has become unproductive because his supervisors have been unable to manage him in a way that he will be productive. It is not a fault of the current system, but a lack of adequate management. The NSPS system will only increase this problem. Litigation will increase and teamwork will be adversely affected. I have watched as several of my fellow civilian employees have deployed to Iraq to support our government and way of life. The NSPS document published in the register was a slap in the face of the civilian workforce. The implementation of the NSPS system truly could affect our national security…in an adverse way. The NSPS system should not be implemented. Everything that the document states as a benefit can be accomplished under the existing system with revisions. Again, I request that another public notice and comment period be conducted after the details of the NSPS plan are determined.