| Comment Number: | OL-10509544 |
| Received: | 3/15/2005 4:07:47 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:
If we'd wanted to join the military, we wouldn't be civilians. To change the rules so that DoD can, in essence, treat us like military members is absurd. If a business in the private sector had done something like this - especially superceding all collective bargaining agreements - our Government would be down their throats in a heartbeat. So why do it to it's own employees? Section 9901.342 perpetuates the "good ole boy" environment where the favorites will get the raises and anyone who makes waves will be penalized. And to be able to reduce an employees pay because of one manager's opinion is ridiculous. During the great majority of my federal career I have been evaluated as an exceptional performer, but I did have one supervisor who just plain didn't like me and downgraded my evaluation. If he could have reduced my pay he would have - and it had absolutely nothing to do with my performance. This law allows that to happen and continues to allow the "favored children" to be rewarded and promoted whether they deserve it or not with other employees having no recourse. And being able to set a new employee's starting pay higher than current employees does absolutely nothing to encourage loyalty and longevity (9901.351) Where would be be without senior, experienced employees to mentor and guide the rising young stars? I think you'll see a rash of retirements and resignations once this system is implemented. Putting longevity in the lowest position on the retention register for RIFs further demeans loyalty as a positive, desirable personality trait. Regarding adverse actions, eleminating the opportunity to improve also eliminates the human element in Government service. As does giving the Government the ability to move and deploy people as it sees fit. It does not take into consideration the fact that humans can have bad periods in their lives that can and usually are overcome. People have family responsibilities, get ill, and have life changing experiences that impact their professional as well as personal lives that can be and normally are corrected over time. To not give them that time is inhumane. On the whole this system takes away rights that have taken years to evolve through laws and negotiations with labor organizations with one swipe of a pen.