The Pentagon has posted updated statistics on the drawdown of the National Security Personnel System. As of Aug. 1, 110,313 NSPS employees have been returned to the General Schedule system. Of those, almost 80,000 have been bumped up to the next highest step and received pay raises averaging $1,450.
But more than 22,000 employees — 20 percent of those transferred — have been placed on retained pay status because they earn more than their GS grade’s step 10 allows. They will receive half of the normal GS pay raise each year until their grade catches up with their salaries.
The Pentagon expects to have more than 168,000 NSPS employees back on the GS system by the end of September. The remaining 56,000 or so employees will be put on other personnel systems in fiscal 2011.
Defense officials first estimated in December that roughly 4,000 employees would be put on pay retention. But if the current rate of pay retention continues, more than 45,000 employees could have their pay raises halved — some for years.
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I am one of those 22,000 on retained pay. A year ago, my GS-07 (or YB-02) was deleted and I was forced to take a job as a YB-01, or GS-06. Naturally, that put me beyond the Step 10 level. How is it fair that I only get 1/2 of a normal GS pay raise? I didn’t ASK to lose my GS-07 job! I’d still be in the same position if I had my “druthers.” If we don’t get screwed one way, we get screwed another. Typical government crap. Someone needs to do something about this unfairness!!!
@Regina: You were a GS 7 before you were put on NSPS?
Actually Mr. Losey, DoD estimated around 4,000 employees above the salary cap would be on pay retention and always indicated it could make no estimate on employees above step 10 of their classified grade. You’ve misreported this on a number of occasions.
Everybody I know has done better under NSPS than those who remained GS. It is unfair. Why did NSPS employees get an opportunity to shoot ahead of their peers? I feel invalidated.
I think the question everyone should be asking is… what is this “other personnel systems” that the remaining 56k will move to. I am one of those and our mgmt is describing this new system as a glorified NSPS. Goals that are unmeasurable properly. Same ole “good ole boy” environment. Let’s look into this…
Why is the USAF completing a Annual Closeout with NSPS, conducting a rating, but failing to have a share payout for the folks converting back to GS? Is this legal?
@Jack Jones. My reporting is accurate. In the initial interview I did with the Pentagon’s Tim Curry he made no distinction between people who had hit the ultimate salary cap equivalent to Level IV of the Executive Schedule, and people who were above their step 10.
I went back and reviewed my notes from my conversation with Mr. Curry and here is what he said:
“If someone is above step 10, he would have to be under retained pay. Their pay won’t be reduced, but retained pay [rules] state you get fifty percent of the pay adjustment.”
I then asked how many people could be placed on pay retention, and he said, “About 3,000 to 4,000 could face this situation.”
The Pentagon’s estimations of the effects of pay retention have changed over the last year or so, but they originally estimated as many as 4,000 would be on retained pay.
The article was well written, but focuses mainly on those who are receiving more than they would have in the GS system (retained pay). What is being done for the employees who took (and continue to take) a loss with NSPS versus staying in the GS system. Besides CPAC/CPOC, who do they contact to file an inquiry, complaint, and/or request for assistance if they feel unfair pay practices have occurred?
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Regina Bianchi I was a GS 6 before NSPS and they re wrote my job to fit the NSPS under the MEO guidelines and now on the transition out of NSPS I am a GS 5 I really know how you feel… It is very frusterating because I am a very hard worker… I got demoted at no fault of my own and pretty much wont get more raises.