TOPICS
TOPICS
President signs bill repealing Defense personnel system
President Obama on Wednesday signed the death warrant for the Pentagon's personnel system, the same day the Government Accountability Office issued a report urging the Defense Department to better address employee concerns with pay for performance when devising a new framework.
Along with the repeal of the National Security Personnel System, the fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act approved by Obama mandates several federal workplace reforms including allowing workers in the Federal Employees Retirement System to allocate unused sick leave toward their retirement.
While the law eliminates NSPS specifically, it directs Defense to work with the Office of Personnel Management to implement a new performance management system at the department.
Meanwhile, in its report, GAO concluded that Defense had tried to address concerns about NSPS, but left some critical issues unresolved. The report -- completed in September 2009, before congressional repeal of the personnel system -- noted the possibility of NSPS' elimination and recommended that the Pentagon consider GAO's guidance in the creation of a new system.
GAO identified specific problems with NSPS, including an incomplete analysis of personnel decisions, which could adversely affect the program's evaluation; failure to ensure employee training is relevant and up-to-date; and a failure to provide a comprehensive review of the safeguards in place. The report also noted that while Defense tried to communicate improvements to workers, it did not sufficiently address employee perceptions of NSPS, which GAO described as "mixed."
The Pentagon generally agreed with GAO's recommendations.
COMMENTS
- Until the good old boy system, nepotism,the glass ceiling, and the granting of special favors is removed - which is almost impossible - a performance system that is fair cannot exist. Corrupted management will always find a loop-hole. Employees disliked by management will be reminded constantly, that is it not what they know, but who they know. Still standing. Francis Scott Posted November 18, 2009 3:55 PM
- I work at NGA and have seen very few good managers. They are very vague on instruction, goals, communication, and they are highly inconsistent on their evaluation practices. We've had them adjusted for no good reason. Frankly, it encourages a cut-throat culture of egoists and game players. It is rather insane. There is huge nepotism, frequent conflict-of-interest with spousal promotions, children hires, etc. Compound this incest with an "objective PFP" and you get....crap results. PFP sounds good, and ideally, it is good. But, in practice, it is bad news. Hell, the military doesn't have PFP, it is more GS'd than the GS, and I don't see anyone being critical about that. DOD Guy Posted November 17, 2009 9:54 PM
- Mangers/Supervisors have always been able to get rid of the slackers;VK. They just premote them up the line. The worker bee stays at the same level because someone has to do the real work. Michael Posted November 10, 2009 3:19 PM
