Comment Number: OL-10509814
Received: 3/15/2005 6:35:57 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:

The proposed rules allow for the possibility that my pay could be frozen even if my performance is rated satisfactory or better. This could happen to a fully successful employee’s pay with the use of “control points”, which can be implemented in each pay band to freeze salaries at a certain level. Section 9901.342(d)(3) states: “DoD may provide for the establishment of control points within a band that limit increases in the rate of basic pay. DoD may require that certain criteria be met for increases above a control point.” If a control point were set to require an employee to receive the highest rating to be awarded a pay increase, employees who get the 2nd highest rating and lower would receive nothing, and their pay would be frozen, possibly for the rest of their career. This is clearly unfair, and would result in distrust of management, decreased morale, and lower productivity, ultimately harming national security. In my view, no changes should be made to the current pay system used by Department of Defense agencies until complete and detailed proposals are provided, and a full comment and review period is completed, followed by a full collective bargaining process with the unions representing DoD employees.