Comment Number: OL-10509441
Received: 3/15/2005 3:21:56 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:

1 Evaluation for pay increases// awards: How will NSPS take into account the fact that the successful result of a government employee's efforts depends on the inputs of many other people, and many times we don't have management authority to direct these people. 2. Employee Mobility: If DOD wants the same flexiblity they have with the military, which sometimes includes moving people to unstable zones like Irak, then you need to offer the civilians the same benefits the military has (20 year service, allowances for housing, etc.) Its is not easy for a civilian to buy/sell houses in a short time, plus all the hardships on family life. How do you expect to attract smart professionals that will have to work 30+ years taking the same risks as a military. Enemy bullets can not distinguish between military/civilian. Do you think a civilian will be able to get life insurance to protect his/her family under these circumstances? 3. Many jobs require special skills that can only be acquired in government service and which have no commercial equivalent or at least have a small market. Is there a provision that would help people get retrained or is this just a tool to establish a federal at-will employment system? 4. The pay system seems more complicated than what we currently have. The regs say pay will depend on many factors (where are you getting your data from?). It seems the pay will be the discretion of management. Without adequate safeguards against managers who will use this as a political tool to award his followers and punish his dissenters. The government will end up fighting many court battles. 5. Believe it or not employees do not work just for money. In today's world they take into consideration job security, family life, etc. 6. This system seems to be more a reaction to the tragics events of 9-11 implying that what happened was the federal emplyee's fault. It's is not the employee who failed but the system. Why not spend our energy in developing a National Security Management/Leadership System making into law that the system will be developed with the people who actually do the work, and then modify the personnel system in accordance with management system. The engine is doing a sloppy job and NSPS thinks it is the mechanic, but it does not matter how good the mechanic is if the mechanic asks for a part or a tool and no one listens. Fix the engine first!