| Comment Number: | OL-10504844 |
| Received: | 3/10/2005 11:35:03 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:
SubPart F, Workforce Shaping, Reduction in Force It looks like the main purpose of the proposed NSPS, as it is written, is to greatly ease management's ability to fire workers. Implementation of RIF changes should be deferred until Spiral 2 to allow for more discussion and evaluation. I work in DOD and am pretty worried about the Reduction in force section. I have never met a employee representative, never been part of a focus group, don't know anyone that has, and it appears management is developing this system as they wish with minimal employee impact, similar to the problems the unions were upset about earlier. The way the Workforce Shaping section is written, in stark contrast to current RIF procedure, management can isolate by so many variables (competitive area, competitive group, retention standing) and so many sub-variables within each, that political retribution (not based on performance) is clearly possible. As currently written, NSPS RIF will allow targeted firings, minimal employee safeguard, greatly restricted opportunity (if any) for assignment to another position, even massive layoffs if desired to save money for political programs or to hire friends. By being this worker "unfriendly", it appears this system will greatly injure the workforce. That's why this section at least needs to be deferred for greater consultation and employee discussion. Thank you. Joe.