Nov. 10, 2004

2005 Performance and salary management memo

This letter is in response to the all employee memo from Richard Marquez dated Nov. 9, 2004 entitled "2005 Performance & Salary Management." Under point number 3, it states that [Laboratory Director G. Peter Nanos] is reserving one-time lump sum cash awards for personnel who provided significant contributions to the resumption of operations. Here's the deal: The performance period ended July 31, 2004. The suspension of operations began July 16, 2004. That means there were only two weeks of overlap between the suspension and resumption of operation activities and the performance period. This seems to imply that the director is using merit increases for the past performance appraisal period (Aug. 1, 2003 - July 31, 2004) to reward activities/performance during the next performance period (Aug. 1, 2004 - July 31, 2005). In other words, with money taken away from our raise pool.

Additionally, those employees in the lowest risk functions who were able to resume normal operations within the shortest time period will be penalized for their inability to address and correct problems in high-risk operations. In other words, those who work in organizations or areas responsible for the suspension of operations will be the most highly rewarded employees.

--Russ Miller