NSPS Exits with a Bang Not a Whimper

While most white collar feds are under a pay freeze, salaries will go up for some Defense civilians under the fast-fading National Security Personnel System. Congress has killed off the controversial merit pay program. But some workers will get modest (2 percent range) raises anyhow. That’s because they are based on performance ratings not subject to the 2-year pay freeze.

The NSPS, which was iffy from day one, is exiting with a bang not a whimper!

If you were suspicious of the pay-for-performance system imposed on Defense during the Bush administration, you were probably right to do so. If you predicted that the National Security Personnel System, with its pay bands and pay raise flexibility, would make it easier for some bosses to play favorites you were almost certainly correct. Up to a point. If you predicted it would disappear under a Democratic White House and Congress you were spot on.

On the other hand, if you said the NSPS would be a blessing in disguise for tens of thousands of workers, you were also correct. A substantial number of employees, some of whom were dragged kicking and screaming into the new system, did very well indeed. And are kicking and screaming as they are returned, some as square pegs forced into round holes, to the regular civil service GS system.

Federal unions fought the NSPS and other proposed systems on grounds that they weren’t consulted (true) and that it would strengthen the old-boy, old-girl, old-whatever-you-favor network that exists in virtually every federal agency. They blocked implementation of it in the Department of Homeland Security. They limited the Defense plan to workers outside union jurisdiction. Then worked on Congress to kill it completely.

At its peak, the NSPS covered about 226,000 Army, Navy and Air Force civilians. During FY 2010, 171,985 employees were returned to the civil service fold. The NSPS is down to around 50,000 (as of last Oct. 1, 2010) and shrinking.

Fans said the NSPS made it possible for managers to reward top performers, for people to move up quicker, etc. They said employees got bigger pay raises than their colleagues left behind in the GS system.

Foes said the bigger raises were unsustainable over a long period of time. They said it was a calculated administration attempt to make it appear that the system was better in every way and to keep employees from complaining to Congress.

Ironically, as the NSPS fades into the sunset, thousands of NSPS workers will be getting pay raises despite the 2-year freeze on other white collar federal pay raises. The modest bumps are possible because they are based on performance and not subject to the controls Congress and the White House have over the regular January adjustment.

Several things are certain:

• A lot of contractors made a lot of money teaching Defense managers how the system was supposed to work.
• Some not-so-hot employees probably made out like bandits under the NSPS.
• Some very good employees deservedly did very well under NSPS compared to their old system.
• You can bet that the NSPS (or something similar to it) will return in the future when a new Congress and a new president decide to reform the government and try something completely new: A pay for performance system!

What’s Next For Feds & the SES?

Will your two year pay freeze be extended through 2015 or beyond? Is Congress going to water-down the retirement system, and force feds and retirees to pay a bigger chunk of their health premiums? What about the proposed 15 percent job cut? We’ll get an update this morning at 10 a.m. (EST) on our Your Turn with Mike Causey radio show. Federal Times experts Steve Watkins and Sean Reilly, who covers the Postal Service, will update us on what Congress can do, and may do, to you. And they’ll talk about the anti-fed movement. Also on the show Senior Executive Association President Carol Bonosaro will talk about the impact of proposed changes on the top career ranks of government. If you have questions you can call in live at 202.465.3080. Or email me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

To hear the show, click the LISTEN NOW button in the upper right hand corner of our page. In your car or radio in the DC area you can listen (10am) at 1500 AM.

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

Nearly Useless Factoid
by Suzanne Kubota

From UPI’s What not to say to someone who is grieving, Aurora Winter, founder of the Grief Coach Academy and author of “From Heartbreak to Happiness,” recommends not to say at a funeral or wake:

• Don’t feel bad.
• Be grateful you had him or her so long.
• At least you have other children.
• You’re young. You can get another husband/wife/child.
• It just takes time.

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