I want my annual 3%!

Pending Pentagon Performance Pay Plan Probably Postponed Permanently

They should pay them by the kill, like in the old Injun-hunting days when they got paid per scalp.

(Uhm, that's not very culturally or politically sensitive, is it? I'm sorry.)

you really think it's a good idea to encourage me?

No, no, nooo! You don't understand, I've been under a demo of this system for years now, it's fan-fucking-tastic. Performance-based raises reward good people, and you have no idea how easy it is to be a good worker surrounded by the dregs of the GS- civil service system. This system is, like, the best thing ever.

Real shame they're scaling it back. It's worked great for those it's had to work for.

Cheers,
Dave at Garfield Ridge

Okay, just bothered to actually, you know, *read* the WaPo article. They're not changing the goals, just slowing down the rollout.

Fine by me, won't affect my pay system.

Whew.

Cheers,
Dave at Garfield Ridge

Dave,
are you being serious, or is that sarcasm? I too am a government drone, and I have yet to hear anything good about pay for performance. At first blush, it looks like it's too vulnerable to favoritism and the whims of supervisors. Experience has taught me that if the G gets a chance to screw it's employees, it will take it. I'd like to hear it's advantages , if you can discuss them.

Dave, I agree. When I entered the workforce 3 1/2 years ago, they had just started a demo of the program in my division. I can't imagine it working any other way. With all the slack-asses in my office, there's no reason everybody should get the same raise every year.

UGADawg,
Well, we'll see this year for me. I've got a new boss who I don't get along with, but I'm pretty confident if she tries to screw me on compensation, I'll be able to take my case up the line and get it dealt with.

We have a saying here in the (non-union) private sector:

"Your raise is effective when you are."

Any other system removes all incentive to become an exceptional employee. If I bust my tail, work late, come in early, and still get no more than what the lazy guy next to me gets, eventually I am going to become just like the lazy guy, because what's the point of working harder if I never get anything out of it?

This also happens to be the reason why socialism doesn't produce great technological advancements.

Zuke and Crash:
I agree with you both that slugs shouldn't get the same perks as the workers. That's the way it would work in a perfect world. But in this world, some supervisors can be awfully petty people, and they are surprisingly common in my line of work. I would hate to leave something as important as pay raises in the hands of people who might give the shaft to a deserving guy while rewarding the office suck up.

UGAdawg--

The program is a DoD effort primarily, with potential applicability to the rest of the gov't if it works. But realistically, it's only going to be DoD, because part of the justification was that the hiring and firing flexibility afforded by the NSPS was needed for national security reasons (hard to argue with that, although the unions tried).

I've been in a demo program for about four years now, and I've been very happy with it. Most people have, although a few get shafted (but that's the point-- if you keep getting shafted, perhaps it's time to find a new job. Helps with attrition).

As for the review process, it's not perfect, but it's not very mercurial. Basically, my direct boss-- and her boss-- make inputs to a board above them. They review my performance review inputs and make recommendations accordingly. In a lot of respects, it's not too dissimilar from a military promotion board, they try to make it as impartial as possible.

If I don't like my review, I also have room to appeal. Never had to try that yet, but there's an opportunity if I feel that I got screwed.

Bottom line: in the time I've been in this system, I've made *far* more money than I would have just going through the standard GS step increase system. I've also been able to snag a few bonuses along the way. Of course, contrary to my blogging persona/Ace of Spades HQ fanboy existence, I have had to work my ass off for it.

But, really, that's the whole point of having merit-based incentives, right? If I was just sitting here collecting "do not pass go" raises based on seniority, they'd be lucky to get 40 hours out of me a week, let alone 60+ and weekends.

Cheers,
Dave at Garfield Ridge

Ok, Dave, thanks. My outfit has made the same arguments vis a vis hiring and firing. I'll wait and see, but I'm cynical about government agencies doing something new for their employees and saying it will "be better".