ESC NSPS results on track with Defense Department averages

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gilmartin
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Electronic Systems Center's results for the first performance period of the National Security Personnel System are similar to the average results across the Department of Defense in both payout percentages and rating distribution.

"This shows that ESC's pay pools got it right," said Bob Youtt, ESC's NSPS program manager. "Our pay pool members and managers worked very hard to make this new system fair and equitable, and from what I can see, they succeeded."

NSPS is a new pay-for-performance personnel system that rewards employees for their contributions to the organization's mission. It was implemented at Hanscom Jan. 21, 2007 for all non-bargaining unit employees. ESC conducted seven pay pools in December to determine how each of the more than 900 ESC employees covered by NSPS was compensated for their performance. Employees under NSPS received their ratings by Jan. 3, and their payouts, distributed as a combination of salary increase and bonus, were reflected in Jan. 25 pay checks.

For ESC employees at Hanscom, the average total payout, which includes a salary increase, a bonus, a pay band adjustment and locality pay, amounted to 7.68 percent. This is on track with the DoD average payout of 7.6 percent.

Mr. Youtt cautioned that, "People shouldn't read too much into these averages, because there are a number of variables that contribute to each." He cited different locality pay rates at each ESC location as well as across DoD, and different share values within each pay pool as data that can affect each average.

"What people should take away from these results is that they fared well under NSPS," Mr. Youtt said. "Anecdotally, I've heard from several people who were somewhat surprised and pleased with the amount of their performance payouts. Some people were skeptical about NSPS going into the performance period, but now that they have seen how it works, they are satisfied that it is fair and equitable."

Only a small percentage of employees in DoD, 0.2 percent, and none in ESC, received a rating of one, which is "unacceptable." Similarly, only 2 percent of ESC employees and 1.6 percent of DoD employees received a rating of two, or "fair."

Across ESC, the majority of employees under NSPS, some 63 percent, were rated a three, or "valued performer," while 57 percent of DoD employees rated under NSPS received a rating of three. Thirty-one percent of ESC employees received a rating of four, indicating they "exceeded expectations," while 36.1 percent of DoD employees received a four. Four percent of ESC's NSPS work force received a rating of 5, or "role model," compared to 5.1 percent across DoD.

Having wrapped up the first performance period of NSPS, Mr. Youtt is focused on the current period, which began Oct. 1.

"By now, all employees should have approved job objectives, and should be thinking about their upcoming self assessments," he said.