Dec 21, 2007

Energy Dept. agency reform pay system

By STEPHEN LOSEY, FederalTimes.com

The Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration will move more than 1,900 non-bargaining unit employees to a new performance pay system in March.

The five-year pilot program also will replace the current system of regular General Schedule step and grade increases with a series of three or four pay bands, depending on an employee’s occupation. Each pay band will encompass several GS grades and is intended to let managers set higher starting salaries and promote employees more rapidly based on their skills and performance.

The pilot will cover engineers and scientists, nuclear materials couriers, young employees enrolled in NNSA’s future leader program, and technical and administrative employees.

The program, outlined Dec. 21 by the Office of Personnel Management, could eventually be rolled out to all NNSA employees if successful. It is based on similar programs already in place for about 500 NNSA technical experts and nuclear facility safety representatives and about 150,000 Defense Department civilian employees.

Employees will be evaluated annually by their supervisors and assigned one of four performance ratings: does not meet expectations, needs improvement, fully meets expectations, and significantly exceeds expectations.

All employees rated at or above “fully meets expectations” will receive the full annual pay increase all GS employees receive. But those who are judged to have significantly exceeded expectations in at least one category will receive an additional performance raise from a second pay pool. NNSA will hand out performance raises based on a four-share system.

Those who are not meeting expectations or need improvement will not receive any pay raise. However, they will have a chance to improve their performance and earn their raise.

Most employees will receive a small pay raise when they are transferred to the new system. NNSA will pay them a prorated salary increase based on how close they were to receiving another within-grade step increase. Employees already at the step 10 level will not get a pay raise in March.

NNSA said it will train employees, supervisors and managers on the new system before it begins March 16.

The agency hopes the new plan will help it recruit younger workers to take over for large numbers of existing employees who are nearing retirement age. NNSA wants to offer higher starting salaries and faster career progression to help staff its technical and scientific jobs, for which workers are in high demand and limited supply.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

"NNSA wants to offer higher starting salaries and faster career progression to help staff its technical and scientific jobs"

Meanwhile, back at the NNSA "for-profit" science labs where all the science is actually done, salaries are quickly stagnating and benefits are being dialed back for most of the staff. And job security? Don't make me laugh. Seems to be a bit of a disconnect here.

Can I at least get stock options on my LLC? How about a fat Christmas bonus? A nice company leased car? Free flights on the corporate jet? OK, can I at least get an extra bag of coal for the bitterly cold Winter Holidays?

Nah? I thought so.

Anonymous said...

Looks to me as if the civil service step system is coming in play. I ma sure glad thay are doing away with that crappy merit system. At least now we'll all be paid the same. If you want a pay raise you'll have to interview for a new GS or WG grade and maybe you'll get promoted. have no doubt that the good old boy system plays a part in the WG / GS system too but at least when 5% comes in, everyone in that pay grade gets 5%.

Anonymous said...

NNSA has come to realize that they have to pay more for the C students that populate their halls, but they can continue to belittle the people who actually are doing the work.

Anonymous said...

Can I still get the LANS match on my 401K after I've been laid off?

Anonymous said...

"Can I still get the LANS match on my 401K after I've been laid off?" (6:24 PM)

Yes, you may. The magic Tooth Fairy will be coming once a month to leave the money under your fluffy pillow.

Be sure to leave the windows wide open so she can fly into your home. And remember, she won't leave a dime unless you truly believe in her Fairy Godmother, LANS, with all of your heart and soul.

Anonymous said...

So pay for our NNSA overlords is due to rise, while pay for the scientists at the labs who do the work is held down? Way to go, NNSA. That should really improve the quality of the scientific output you get from the labs.

Anonymous said...

10:52 pm

Have you even LOOKED at the GS pay scale? It's not that impressive, especially compared to what DOE labs pay and compared to cost of living (i.e. NM vs DC). Any scientist leaving LANL to take a job at NNSA would likely be taking a salary cut. This is one probable reason they are trying to re-vamp the system; because they can't fill positions (would you leave NM for DC at less pay if you didn't HAVE to?).

Anonymous said...

12/21/07 6:10 PM". NNSA has come to realize that they have to pay more for the C students that populate their halls, but they can continue to belittle the people who actually are doing the work."

Y'all got to stop being critcal of C students. In this great nation of ours, even a C student can make a difference. Thank y'all for your continuing support.

--GW Bush, Pres.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous at 12/22/07 6:57 AM asks: "Have you even LOOKED at the GS pay scale? It's not that impressive, ..."

OK, but, first these guys are really C students. They would not get jobs at DOE labs except maybe in Facilities Management where there is no accountability.

Secondly, they didn't have to take these jobs.

Thirdly, their benefits are better than ours and the really have GREAT job security.

Lastly, if the sslaries are so bad, they can always quit!

Anonymous said...

Unreal. First we bitch about the C students who oversee us from NNSA. Then we bitch because they're raising the pay scale so they might be able to attract the occasional B- student.

Sad.

And NNSA laid off a bunch of staff ~5 years ago. Of course LANL was all fat and happy back then, so why would we have paid any attention to a bunch of feds whining about getting RIF'd?

Anonymous said...

2:09 pm says "Secondly, they didn't have to take these jobs.

Thirdly, their benefits are better than ours and the really have GREAT job security.

Lastly, if the salaries are so bad, they can always quit!"

I wonder if he/she understands the irony of that series of statements.

Anonymous said...

2.4, BS, and making 130 k.

That really upsets you guys huh??

Hey, deal with it.

Anonymous said...

"2.4, BS, and making 130 k..."

And if you are typical, it will grow at the real rate of about 2-3%...so don't start spending too wildly... Your wife and kids, schools, churches, property tax assessors, doctors, auto repairmen, big oil, colleges, bailiffs and lawyers have a few demands coming... and put aside 15%off the top each year for your convalescent home....

At least you have a decent shot at staying middle class

life is long...God is good