Comment Number: OL-10510014
Received: 3/15/2005 11:43:49 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:

Here are my comments on the proposed NSPS regulations: 1. Under Section 9901.361, how will overtime pay be handled? In my agency, O.T. pay is capped at the GS-10/10 level. How does this apply to the new pay band system? 2. Under Section 9901.373, how will an employee's upcoming within-grade increase be handled prior to conversion to the NSPS system? If I have six months remaining before my next within-grade increase (under the current system), will I just simply lose all that time the I've worked at an acceptable level, only to have my anticipated increase decided by folks comprising the pay pool panel and the pay pool manager? The regulations do not state how this will work. This concerns me. 3. Under Section 9901.212, how does an employee move to a higher pay band? How does one move down (higher pay) in their current pay band? For those of us that have never worked in a system using paybands, this system needs to be explained so that we can understand how it will work. Simply stating that the agency will establish these procedures doesn't explain to us how this process will work. General questions: 1. Will my performance rating have an effect on my future status for a possible RIF at my agency? In other words, will better performers outrank longtime employees (those with more years of service)? Is this addressed in these regulations and if so, where? Is this something that the agencies could implement as part of their NSPS procedures? 2. I understand that the performance award money will be paid out of something called the Human Capital Performance Fund. What sources of money will fund this? General comments: I have grave concerns about this new system. My concerns are rooted in the fact that at my agency, all interested employees were not allowed to attend the town hall meeting that was held here several months ago. I feel as though we are being kept in the dark about this new system. No one knows anything about it, yet this NSPS system seems to be what's coming down the road. I hope that this 30 day review period will send a message to our leaders in Washington that a lot more communicating with the federal employees needs to be done BEFORE this system is put into place. That certainly is not the case at this time.