Comment Number: OL-10510290
Received: 3/16/2005 8:32:25 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:

I have reviewed the proposed personnel system changes and view them as changes that will be a determent to morale and retention of many rank and file employees. The backbone of the Dept of Defense is the mid-level management. These are the people who perform the actual work that provides our war fighters the tools necessary to fight and win wars. Many in corporate America have come to the realization that the 9 to 5 employee who is content and stays with the company for years, not the high performers who come and go, are the back bone of the company that produces profits. If the current system is drastically changed as proposed, the stability factor that helps morale and keeps the profit making employees on the job will be removed and they will find employment else where. This will deprive the government of many profit makers. The pay for performance proposal is similar to the GM pay plan of the past that was discontinued because of its failure to produce desired results but did produced dissatisfaction in the workforce. Pay banding is another arm of the failed pay for performance idea. Pay for performance is a good theory but impossible to operate in a fair and impartial manner due to the human factor, personalities and other unrelated factors. Failure to take action to remove poor performing employees is not because of the current personnel system, but because managers in a position to correct the problem is unwilling to go the extra mile or rock the boat within the management structure. Implementation of the proposed personnel changes will not solve the problem but will reward the people who are currently a big part of the problem at the expense of the government and the true performers. The current system has faults but it also has procedures to hire and reward good performers, remove poor performers and place personnel where they are the best fit and where needed. The main problem with the current system is the lack of people willing to work within the system to achieve needed results. The new system is advertised as needed to improve national security. From my experience of 20 plus years in government service, I do not believe a new personnel system will improve national security or produce positive results for the government. I known several people who were part of programs to test some of these proposed changes and no one wanted them to become permanent or felt they improved morale. I am not submitting these comments out of fear of how they will affect because I will retired before they are implemented. I am concerned about the government having the most efficient and productive work force possible. I do not believe the proposed personnel system will promote a better workforce.