Web site explains National Security Personnel System

  • Published
  • By Army Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Department of Defense officials launched a Web site to educate civilian employees about the new National Security Personnel System. NSPS will make changes in the way the department hires, pays, promotes, disciplines and fires civilian employees.

The site is meant to help DOD employees understand the new personnel system, said Brad Bunn, acting deputy program executive officer.

"Change is difficult, and lack of information about coming changes often leads to stress and anxiety and, unfortunately, misperceptions about what those changes really mean," he said. "We recognize that, and are committed to communicating to our employees about what (the system) will mean to them. The Web site is one communications tool in our toolbox to do that. We will be open, honest and clear about (the system), and our Web site is designed to encourage employee involvement and interest, and minimize misconceptions."

He said the site will help those affected by the changes to understand the "rationale and benefits" of the NSPS, and that it will be "extremely useful" in keeping employees informed and updated as the system evolves.

Congress authorized the new personnel system as part of the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, allowing DOD officials new authority to develop new civilian human resources, labor-management relations and employee appeals systems.

The new site offers an overview of what DOD employees can expect from the new personnel system, as well as information regarding issues of labor-management and employee unions, and links to system-related documents.

One feature of the site is a mechanism for visitors to submit comments and ideas about the system directly to the NSPS program executive office, Mr. Bunn said.

"We continuously monitor the input from visitors, and the ideas and comments we receive through the Web site will help us gauge what employees and other stakeholders are really concerned about,” he said.

The site will be a primary communication vehicle, and it will be used throughout all phases of the personnel system design and implementation process, Mr. Bunn said.

"It certainly won't be our only means of communications, but it's a central source of information on NSPS," he said. "We want to ensure DOD employees have a reliable, continuing source of information as the system develops."

The Web site is the second attempt by personnel officials to get the word out about the new system. A previous Web site was taken down after a three-week strategic review of the design and implementation process in April, officials said.

Mr. Bunn said the new site reflects a conscious effort to minimize confusion about plans for the system.

"We decided to completely redesign the site, giving it a new look and feel, to ensure that it reflects the results of that strategic review," he said.

However, as with any Web site, there is always room for improvement, he said.

"So we encourage our Web site visitors to offer their comments and suggestions about how the new site can become even better," he said.