Comment Number: OL-10510993
Received: 3/16/2005 1:25:12 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:

I write to express my concerns about changes to work rules in the Dept.of Defense (DOD). The proposed regulations, known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), were printed in the Federal Register on Feb 14, 2005. This message will be sent to both DOD and my representatives in Congress. I have worked for DOD for 24 years. I am angry that these proposals seem to treat the employees who help defend our country as the enemy. Most DOD employees work hard and are committed to serving the warfighter. I believe that mistreating the employees will hurt morale and the agency's mission. I am very upset about NSPS. This system will change they way workers are paid, evaluated, promoted, fired, scheduled and treated. These rules will create a "Good Old Boy" system in which federal managers are influenced by favoritism rather than serving the civil concerns of the American People. Some (but not all) of my concerns follow: Classification - (Subpart B) 9901.201 to .231 Managers and Personnel (HR) are the ones who have made the job descriptions complex and rigid. Usually it was done to help save certain employee's from being affected by RIF'S. Unions have NEVER been afforded the opportunity to negotiate classifications. Management DOESN'T need this in order to have flexibility. They can assign work and detail employees to different functions. There will end up being a "gereralized workforce" instead of a "specialized workforce" no one will be specialized in anything. I have seen nothing in any detail about paybanding. I'm being left in the dark when it comes to that. Except for that fact that how it stands now I am at the end of my paybanding and unless I were to get promoted I don't see me getting any pay raises in the future. It should be "equal pay for equal work". NOT who is the boss's favorite employee. This is going to cause alot of hate and discontent in the workforce. Employee against employee. One may have to start sleeping with the higher ups to get recognized like they did years ago! Job descriptions can be simplified WITHOUT NSPS!! This could cause an involuntary demotion depending on how the pay bands are set up. This could take me from the top of my current grade to a lower position in the extablished career group. What will really be expected of me?? With the broad range of duties, I could be performing one set of duties one week and another set of duties another week. This will result in more money spent on training. Or more mistakes made by untrained employees. I have NOT seen nor read any rationale from DOD why these changes need to be made. I cannot understand how my classification or pay has affected National Security. We will be going back 40 years! I expect all employees will have a job description that says "deployable". I have never considered myself as a military employee and don't plan to be treated as one. PAY & PAY ADMINISTRATION AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUBPART C 9901.301 TO .373 SUBPART D 9901.401.409 Our pay has always been based on performance the way it is now. If my performance is not up to expectations, step increases could always be held from me. Management has always had that right with the current system! Management has always been able to reward high performers with QSI's, monetary awards and time off awards. We don't need NSPS for this. Team work will be no more! Employees will be against employees. This is going to hurt the mission and hurt the soldier who is fighting for us. Instead of helping one another, some people will be doing everything possible to make someone else look bad. It will be unfair to withhold paygrade or step increases for employees who have done nothing but work hard and been loyal to DOD. Where is the payoff? Employees are expected to be loyal but not DOD? I believe DOD is trying to save money because of this war at my expense. Why is the Fed Employee always the scapegoat? PLEASE STOP THIS NOW