| Comment Number: | OL-10511129 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 2:09:41 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:
A. My brother works for the Dept of Navy and has been in one of the pilot programs for the new personnel system for several years. He has been able to improve his pay significantly through hard work. Thus, I know that there are some good opportunities with this system. However, I am concerned about the lack of time available to review this large document and about the lack of detailed information available for review. It is impossible to evaluate how this plan will be carried out in MY agency, the Corps of Engineers, with the time and information available. 30-days is sufficient for review of some proposals but the huge, sweeping nature of this change warrants a longer review period. Also, more details should be provided on how locality pay will be handled, what the pay bands will be and what jobs will be included in each, what limits will be placed on changes in job descriptions, what type of supervisor training will be offered and how will supervisors unable to fairly and effectively implement this system be identified and handled, etc. B. Secondly, the Corps is undergoing some hard times with possible RIF's and certain reorganization in the near future. I fear that a desire to reduce costs and recruit new blood will lead to possible age discrimination as older, more expensive workers are forced out. No, I am not an older worker; neither am I a younger worker. I voice this opinion from an objective, middle-of-the-pack viewpoint. C. Lastly, I question whether the Corps of Engineers should be included in this new personnel system at all. This is being done in the name of "National Security" yet much of the Corps's work is not military but is in public works. I have worked for the Corps for 15 years with not one of my days being spent on a military project. One of our Colonel's once commented that the Corps had been "saved" from being removed from DoD and placed under the Dept of Interior or some other non-Dod agency. I say, break us into military and non-military parts and realign accordingly.