Return to Article: Pentagon to add 75,000 employees to new personnel system
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84903
Looking for anyone who may be in this category. I went from a non-supervisory firefighter (back seat, pull the hose guy) to supervisory firefighter (overseeing the fire prevention program and a staff of nine, inspectors and mid level supervisors). I was told this was a re-assignment and given 5% pay increase. This was clearly a promotion, warranting between 6 and 20% increase. Now I am looking sue for back pay and looking for anyone else who falls in this category as I think it really should be a class action suit.
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64551
I just got my counselling to inform me of my ratings for FY08. I busted my butt and did the job of two gov billets in my section because the other has been vacant for a year. So what do I get?..3s!! No plus-ups!?! Although my boss gave me a big attaboy to compliment my self assessment, the pay panel removed everyones +1s from my division and we all got 3s. What a bunch of bullshit! All that time wasted doing NSPS assessments just to be insulted by giving me about 1500 more dollars a year and a $700+ bonus (before taxes). Screw this, I'm jobhunting on the net for the rest of the afternoon since the work I should be doing obviously doesn't count for squat to the government.
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41914
After busting my butt and exceeding my objectives, I still got a average 3 with 2 shares. What a joke. I got .2% more than the non-NSPS employee. 0.2% for hundreds of OT (own time) hours, working weekends, holidays, during leave, and after hours. This next year I will work only 40 hours a week - no uncompensated OT, no holidays, and ignore messages asking if I can come in (unless I get overtime or comp time). NSPS is like communism. It's great in theory, but doesn't work in real life. It's time to look for a NON-NSPS job.
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38166
It's time for all government civilians to STRIKE or at least join a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT against NSPS. Civilians need to come together and stop NSPS once and for all. This is the most unethical, illegal movement that the government has ever done and NO ONE is doing anything about it. When are civilians going to STAND UP for themselves? Did you ever look at a screw from the top??? It looks like a spiral and their are 75,000 more honest, hardworking government employees that are about to get "spiralled." Sr DOD Execs...you should be ashamed of yourselves.
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37006
Anonymous,
My agency, or shall I say former agency since I accepted another position elsewhere, is scheduled to convert as I write this. Knowing what's in box 37 of your SF-50 is the key to protecting your rights as you pointed out. Also, compare it to earlier SF-50s to see if the data has been changed. That's what happened to me. Very unethical practice. I questioned it and was told that since I no longer worked at the location, I lost my bargaining unit status. That is a lie. If you're assigned to an organization(or unit) that has positions in multiple locations, bargaining unit status applies to all employees regardless of location. You can be assigned to a field operating unit and still have bargaining unit status. Even if a position is vacant, it should not be converted to NSPS, if it is in a bargaining unit. There is a process to change one's bargaining unit status and it's more complicated than going into the personnel system to manipulate data; it involves the NLRA. It appears that those intent on implementing NSPS regardless of what Ms Lacey has stated, are employing unethical methods like changing data on an employee's SF-50 to justify their actions. Actions such as these attempt to deny bargaining unit employees of their rights and are unfair labor practices, not to mention misleading the public. Anonymous, you gave great advice when you advised concerned employees to look into things with their local union reps. They need to be aware of what's going on. Someone is not playing fairly.
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36572
HR Specialist, I had to laugh. That was what I said when they brought out FERS and I'm still CSRS and glad of it. I'm also leaving 31 Jan 08 because we are spiraling in Feb 08. You're right, when has anything the government ever done for us turned out to be in our best interest. Count me done!
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36516
Praise the Lord - only 361 more days to retirement! If it weren't for that I would definitely leave DOD. If anyone truly still believes that this will ever work as originally envisioned and be about pay for performance there is a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you.
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36511
I concurred with most of the coments about NSPS. Federal employees need to wake up, the NSPS nothing more than retirement buster for us working folks. If federal salary council says were 23 percent behind private sector wages, do think that NSPS will be better than GS system. I think GS system can be modified to better handle today environment. Remember that 60 percent federal workforce is due retired in 5 years from now. How in world will NSPS attract new personnel, when word goes out how NSPS sucks regarding how pay is rewarding. There was a lot of things in the GS system that supervisors don't know about it, what make you so sure that the supervisors will take the time to learn about NSPS.
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36500
I quit working with the federal Government after 5 years for this very reason. My unit was scheduled Spiral 2.1. Granted we were a union shop so we wouldn't be making the transition just yet, but it was around the corner in my book. I have a family to look after and I no longer felt comfortable with my prospects with the Navy. I witnessed a similar system with the FAA and things were not pretty there either. Time will write the book on this whole process. Much like the FAA is starving for people and hiring junk, the DoD will find out the ignorance of their action in due time.
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36483
Don't let your agency pass over your rite to union representation. My organization has classified my position as field personnel and the main office employees in my same job class are part of the bargaining unit and they are saying that I can't be part of the unit. Look at your Sf-50 in box 37 it will tell you if you are eligible for a bargaining unit! I urge you concerned employees to look into it with your local union representatives. It is your rite!
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36477
I absolutely busted my butt this year, far exceeding my NSPS objectives (which i was extremely involved in generating) and a qualified source has told me each share we get this year from the pay pool I'm in will be approximately 2%. I'm banking on 4 shares plus the 1.5% cost of living. Folks...thats over a 9% increase this year when i wasn't even supposed to get a step increase!! Best part you ask? Mr. nonperformer next to me will probably only get the cost of living based on him not being able to think of one single thing to put on his self assessment. If this actualy does come to frution, I'll work even harder this year to exceed my newly revised (yes, I now have new objectives for this FY that i provided input on) objectives and get even more dough next year when the slackers won't be getting any sort of raise...less dough for them is more for me!! All I can say is it's about dang time Uncle Sam did something to reward high performers and penalize the folks just hanging on for an early out offer. I say get on board with it and work your hardest cuz it aint going away. I'd be willing to gamble my 10% raise that all those crying about wanting to leave DOD have a lot in common with the guy sitting next to me. Go ahead and leave, cuz there are plenty of folks in the corporate world who want your guaranteed pay-checks and benefits package. Don't let the door hit you on the way out!!
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36462
One would almost believe that Federal civil servants assigned to DoD are losing their identity. Clearly, a national security personnel system would be better suited for military and former military personnel. That way Federal civil servants could work against the the Nation's Defense mission in conjunction with the military and not lose their identity. Unfortunately, the NSPS decisions have demonstrated a negative impact on the career civil servants' career and morale, and no doubt the process will stifle innovation. I believe it is important for DoD, if not OPM, to address morale--at this time--if we are to peacefully co-exist within our organizations.
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36396
At our Air Force base in Georgia, the government was caught red-handed running an unconstitutional, illegal race/sex quota system affecting appraisals and promotions. Evidence on file at the federal court house revealed that this was an Air Force wide practice. To eliminate nation-wide negative publicity, the Department of Justice was forced to settle the federal lawsuit out of court. Part of the settlement was a federal court order that included "the recension of an administrative order permitting racial factors to affect annual appraisals." This recension was never shown to the workforce by the Air Force. The scandal was covered by the local Macon news media, but both the national news media and national Union officials as well as base Union officials have been strangely silent on this development. With this best kept government secret, should anyone trust NSPS?
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36388
It's pretty clear the underlying purpose of NSPS is to cut civilian payroll and future retirement costs. If you think it's all about pay for performance, it's time you take off your rose-colored glasses. Hiring in my organization has been at a standstill since going under NSPS a year ago - totally opposite the more streamlined process we were told up front. The NSPS spokespersons conveniently forgot to inform employees that regardless of whether your performance for the entire rating period equaled the role model for DOD, if the employee is not "on the rolls" (due to retirement, job transfer, separation, etc) on 8 Jan 08 - there will be no bonus due. Folks - what's the most popular retirement time frame of the year?? That's how DOD is taking care of their best faithful servants.
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36384
This system is a cumbersome, bloated time consuming waste of money and man power. Military supervisors do not want to deal with it and neither do employees. Thanks Mr. Rumsfeld and our spineless DOD leaders!
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36383
I've only been with the government for about a year, and i am seriously thinking about at least leaving the DoD. NSPS is going to destroy (and is already destroying) DoD moral. Another thing that i don't understand is how excited the Military Officers are about NSPS. I think the big wigs know whats going on and think that its going to mean more money for them. At the end of the day i'm sure that they mostly see it as another thing they can use as leverage to make us submit to their will. I don't know about you other DoD people but Officers tend to think toooo highly of themselves, and expect that Civilians will bow to them like Enlisted or lower ranked Officers do. NSPS is all about controlling the personel budget, and not really getting rid of the slackers. In fact the worst part about it all is most of the people who are the so called "slackers" ARE THE PEOPLE IN THE UNION. You know the people who ARENT GETTING CONVERTED! I used to think that unions were outdate, but its clear to me now that with programs like NSPS they do still serve some substantive purposes.
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36380
I have been under a demo program that is very similar to NSPS for over 10 years. Under the demo program, if you perform well your pay will go up faster than under the GS system. Mine has gone up faster. If you don't perform well, your pay will go up slower or not at all. The same amount of money is being put into salary increases, so the government is not saving money. They have just stopped rewarding people for longevity and started rewarding for performance. I admit that I don't know all of the details of NSPS but the demo programs that it is modeled on work well.
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36375
Name one, just one promise that has been kept by this crowd. They know full well we were specially told (in training sessions, etc) that the '08 raise would be "off the table". Now they publicly state they don't know how the workers got that impression. That should tell you all you need to know about their moral values. This crowd has no moral values and is pre-occupied with one priority--taking care of their closest friends.
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36374
Name one, just one promise that has been kept by this crowd. They know full well we were specially told (in training sessions, etc) that the '08 raise would be "off the table". Now they publicly state they don't know how the workers got that impression. That should tell you all you need to know about their moral values. This crowd has no moral values and is pre-occupied with one priority--taking care of their closest friends.
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36373
I'm a younger employee, so can someone hold my hand and explain to me why this isn't going government-wide, rather than just DoD? If there is a problem with the government personnel system, why is DoD the only one getting the "fix"?
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36372
This is taking too long to roll out. The sooner that my activity is incorporated the sooner my salary will grow based on my performance "that's america"
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36365
Not one positive comment; I wonder if this says anything about the system? I hope Congress is listening. You can thank Donald R. for sticking it to us on the way out.
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36353
Can someone please explain that the yearly increase that is supposed to help combat cost of living is now going to be tied to my performance. In NSPS, there are 5 levels, however roughly 80% of us will be 3's, which are considered "Valued Employees" in NSPS. Is the price of gas going to be cheaper for me if I obtain a 3, vs my counterpart who may be lucky enough to get a 4. No! It will be the same. So, just how is it possible that that the yearly increase is now being tied to performance?
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36349
The policy change to take 1/2 of Spiral 1 employees' raise to back-fill the funding due (to lack of proper planning) is unfortunate. It sends a definite message to us.
The more important issue to me is that we are working continuously increasing mission requirements without commensurate manning. Many never worked just a "40-hr" week, but 50-60+ is now common. Workload like this barely allows time to use leave, let alone comp time. To meet mission requirements, most work very long hours prior to and following any leave we are able to take.
Spiral 2 employees are promised to get the full raise once they enter into NSPS. Who's to say their promise isn't going to be broken, too?
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36342
Side by side Economic comparisons I have reviewed of this system between two GS12 step 10's shows that going forward the GS12 not in the system earns appx. $98,000 more over a 10 year period than does his NSPS equivalent.
There are neumerous threads ongoing at FedrealSoup.com that you may want to also read this is where my comparisons came from.
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36338
I am currently a GS 12-10 earning an annual salary of $83,148 per year. How will NSPS aeffect my retirement pay? Will there be an increase in salary?
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36333
I do find a tad amusement in the fact that one POSSIBLE outcome of this problematic personnel push could be to ultimately find all the supervisors in it and most of the workers outside.
If it is such a good system, I expect we'll see the results reflected in the supervisors' acceptance and morale and graciously accept the "I told you so."
If it is the cow patty that I truly believe it to be; well, sufficient it to say that our noble leaders will be stuck in ... I think y'all can imagine the rest; and I can almost hear the "Ned Beatty" squeals now...
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36324
After the first years experience with NSPS I can say that this must have came out of Washington. This is the most impersonnal, difficult, time consuming evaluation system I seen in 35 years of federal service. The computer based program DOES NOT WORK most of the time and CPO personnel as lost. Supervisors are trying to operate it with incomplete mid year reviews and annual evaluations because it will not take information. Leadership just keeps saying that there are new upgrades to the system will make it better but we're still in the same place as when NSPS began, BROKE!! However, if the intent was to raise the stess level, frustrate government employees, and cause supervisors and employee not to talk face to face, then we have success
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36322
I'm at a small Air Force base in Texas that is being closed in 2011. I have never seen so many employees dead-set against a new system during my entire career. Implementing NSPS at a BRAC base while it is being closed is completely non-logical. It will be virtually impossible to conduct RIFs, Transfer of Function determinations, etc on an equitable basis.
As of this morning, congress is seriously considering pulling funding (all or partial)for NSPS while DOD is pressing ahead to implement the next spiral for 75,000 employees---you know something just doesn't add up here-----
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36319
Why are there not any Air Force civilian employee mentioned in this article. Is the Air Froce thumbing their nose at NSPS because they know what the average worker does that this system is very flawed?
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36317
I'm absolutely amazed that Congress is letting DOD get away with continuing putting civilians into NSPS. This system steals money from civilians that is due to Government Service employees in the first place and then hands it back to them and DOD says, "Here's your bonus." I've never seen something so shameful in my life. The only reason why DOD can put GS employees into this system is that these employees have no voice to protest how unfair this system is. This system lies to employees by telling them they'll get more. It cheats them out of their Cost of Living Allowances. And then DOD steal your retirement money because the bonuses are not being a part of the retirement calculation. DOD is lying, cheating and stealing...as a faithful public servant with 28 years of service, I want to strike and join a Class Action Law Suit. The first chance that I can move away from DOD I'm going to do it....These folks have no integrity.
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36315
Thank the good Lord that my pay grade allows me to be a union member. Congress please put a stop to NSPS. I thought NSPS was going to bring the Government and private sector pay closer so the Gov. could hire and retain better employees? If the current Gov. employees under NSPS are only getting half of their raises how is the Gov. going to compete with the private sector?
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36313
If NSPS is such a great system to improve recruitment and performance, then why DOD is not doing the same for the uniform services? NSPS is only designed to save the Government money. Think, under the GS system an employee will receive a step increase and a cost of living increase, under NSPS you might get something less than a cost of living increase. Employees will earn less yearly. A true pay for performance system would allow at least a cost of living increase and then some type of reward for going excellent work. Nice going DOD.
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36309
NSPS is designed to lower benefits. A worker in the GS system that receives a promotion to an NSPS position will only receive a max raise of 5% of their current salary. Example: A GS 12 promoted to GS 13 would receive a 12K increase in salary; however, a GS 12 is promoted to a NSPS position that was previously a GS 13 position would receive approximately a 3.5K raise. This lowers salary and ultimately retirement benefits. If you are coming from outside the system you can negotiate your salary within the payband, however, if you are within the system the max raise you realize is 5%. What a joke and our elected officials let this happen.
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36308
It is very clear this is going to go forward even though the surveys and reports all indicate it is a flawed and doomed to fail personnel plan. And the question keeps being asked "why can't we find and keep qualified employees?" Read the latest OPM report, it is unreal that Ms. Lacey can think this will work when only 29% of the work force believe their supervisors are trained and qualified to do the job.
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36305
More sheep to the slaughter! I am so happy I work at a "lab" that will probably never be trasitioned to this "boss tweed" system!
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36299
Get out while you can! You won't find anyone getting paid under this touting it's success. That is unless they are sporting some pretty heavy brass on their collar.
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36282
As a member of Spiral 1.0, I offer my condolences to those about to be involuntarily forced into Spiral 2.0 and 2.1. Enjoy getting your 2008 governmental wide pay increase. It is the last one that you will ever see. Do not believe the lies about getting more pay for better performance. It is a sucker's game. The thrust of NSPS in the aggregate is to cut civilian pay and future retirement costs, while simultaneously allowing the well connected to enrich themselves as a reward for shafting the workforce.
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36271
All this amounts to is another form of Union Busting. By the time these employees wake up to what really happened it will be too late. Stop this maddness !
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