My Brief Career With The Census Bureau
The ads that the Census Bureau ran in the local papers a couple of months ago promised hourly wages of $12.00 to $20.00 and the ability to set your own schedule. Even though the starting wage was less than I earned in my first job over 20 years ago, I decided to apply and see what might be available. I should have recognized a problem right away when the local office had to call me back to reschedule my testing date twice.
The recruiter I spoke to instructed me to go to the Census Bureau website and fill out an application and I-9, and to bring the completed forms to the testing session. I was also told to take a practice test online to prepare for the real thing. I followed the instructions to the letter and printed copies of my application and I-9. I also took the practice test and got a perfect score.
Even though it is a 30 minute timed test, the testing session was scheduled to last two hours. When I arrived for the test, I was the only one in attendance who had filled out the forms in advance. I had to sit and twiddle my thumbs while the Census representative administering the test went line by line through both forms instructing people how to fill them out. This process took nearly 40 minutes.
Once the forms were filled out and everyone’s identification was verified, I assumed we would start the test. I was wrong. The proctor handed out copies of the same practice test that I had already taken online, and we we’re instructed to spend the next 30 minutes studying the practice version. More time to twiddle my thumbs.
The actual test started nearly an hour and a half after we arrived at the site. We were told that we had 30 minutes to complete the test, and that we could not leave until everyone had finished. The proctor set a kitchen timer and told us to begin. I opened my test booklet and it was virtually identical to the practice version that I had now taken twice. I completed it in about 15 minutes and then sat patiently waiting for everyone else to finish. It only took the proctor about 15 seconds to grade my test using a cutout template, and for the third time I got a perfect score.
By the time 30 minutes elapsed, everyone had finished the test except for one very fat woman who was obviously having a hard time. Just before the timer went off, the proctor reset it in an obvious effort to allow her to finish. At the end of 45 minutes he finally set off the timer manually, even though the fat lady was still struggling to complete her test. We were finally allowed to leave after being told that hiring priority would be based on our test scores, so the people with the highest scores would be called first.
Three weeks passed before I received a call. I was offered a job working in the local Census office, but what was offered was very different from what had been advertised. The hourly rate had somehow gone down to $9.00, and the flexible schedule was now strictly 8:30 to 5:00. I should have simply passed it up at the time, but I decided to give it a try since I had nothing else to do, and Jennifer is getting tired of being the sole breadwinner.
I reported for my first day yesterday, and took my seat in the large training room. The person beside me was the fat woman from my testing session. We spent the first several hours going line by line through at least a dozen forms, including the I-9 that I had already submitted when I took the test. One of the forms we were shown how to fill out was a daily time sheet. For reasons I cannot comprehend, we were instructed to turn our time sheets in at least two hours before the end of our shift each day.
When the last form was finally completed, we were fingerprinted and required to take an oath of office. The oath that the President of The United States takes is only 39 words and can be recited in just a few seconds. Ours was more like 5 paragraphs and took over a minute. Once the oath was completed, we were informed that our employment would end in 8 weeks.
After lunch our training began in earnest. We had 3 sessions scheduled with 3 different instructors, and we spent about 20 minutes in between each one waiting for the next instructor to arrive. Each session was prefaced by a statement telling us that the material they were about to present didn’t really apply to what we would be doing, but we were required to sit through it anyway since they didn’t have a training program for the jobs we would be performing. The instructor would then proceed to read a script verbatim from a workbook for 20 or 30 minutes. When they finished, we were required to go back and reread exactly the same material.
The final session for the day was with the Assistant Manager of Technology for the local office. In addition to a being a self-proclaimed technology guru, he told us that he was a former police officer, an ordained minister, and a “Christian Financial Adviser.” Unlike the other instructors, he began his presentation with a long list of actions that would result in our immediate termination. When he finally got beyond every possible firing offense, he spent the next 30 minutes speaking in acronyms for which he offered no explanation.
The final session ended at 4:45, and we were allowed to leave 15 minutes earlier than what we had stated on the time sheets that we filled out that morning. When the day ended, I felt as if a large portion of my brain had atrophied, and I still had no clue as to what my new job would entail.
When I arrived this morning, we were told that there were going to be some changes in the work schedule. Instead of 8:30 to 5:00, we were going to divided into two shifts. The first shift would have to arrive at 7:00 AM and work until 3:30. The second shift would work from Noon until 8:30 PM. To make matters worse, we would be rotating between first and second shift every 3 days. I had been at work for less than 5 minutes and my head was ready to explode. I stood up and handed the supervisor my ID badge. My career with the Census Bureau had lasted for exactly 7 hours and 19 minutes.
Given the state of the economy, I don’t expect many people to sympathize with my situation. There are plenty of people who are out of work and desperate enough to allow themselves to be jerked around and put through the wringer. I simply have not reached that level of desperation. Several of the people in the room looked as if they wanted to applaud when I walked out this morning, but I could tell by the look in their eyes that they had no choice but to remain. They are the folks who deserve sympathy.
Good grief. Be glad you got out of there. The fat chick would have likely been your supervisor.
It’s no wonder everything is so screwed up; and I saw a report on TV the other day that government is the only growing employment sector out there. Even as a raging liberal I can say that our government is WAY out of control. Or at least the amount of paperwork and bull**** is way out of control. Call me a liberal-tarian instead.
Just another example of government waste, bureaucracy, and micro-management, plus they think we are all too stupid to notice.
I can hardly wait until this same bunch is in complete charge of our health care system! We can only hope it will be as efficient as the Census Bureau seems to be. I’m with you on your resignation, Chris. Life’s too short for something like that … it’s also too long for something like that!
You lasted longer than I would have…
You should kiss Jennifer’s feet! I am working at the census bureau. And, yes, the training session has not changed one bit. You totally hit it on the head. It was very sad. But I have to say, the people I’m working with are incredibly kind. Which is more than I can say for most people in Roanoke. Perhaps if you’d stayed there a little longer, you would have found the silver lining in the cloud. Just a thought. And by the way, the “fat woman” you blogged about is one of my co-workers and she does a terrific job. I have to ask, what makes you so superior? I’m not trying to be rude, I’m just curious. Why wouldn’t you work an extremely easy, albeit boring, job to help out your partner with expenses? It’s not like there are a ton of jobs in Roanoke and in this economy, please; I know where you are coming from, but in reality, bills have to be paid.
P.S. You shouldn’t call people fat; it’s mean and it brings about bad juju.
You wised up sooner than i did. Your training sounded a lot like mine…..Did you know the trainers more than likely had only been working maybe a week longer than you? Its true so they are as clue-less as you. I lasted 2 weeks. Well over half of our training class has already been let go. I lied early in the week and said i was sick for three days my last week and was canned on the day i did finally think about the money part of that stupid crap and went back. I got to work at 10 and was gone by 1pm. I was a enumerator…….however the hell it is spelled. But our job was to go and verify address. Knock on a door just to tell a person i was verifying thier address and needed nothing from them. But get this….there will be 3 groups come behind us to check our work,,,,,,,a crew to check the crew who checked me and then a crew to check the third crews work who checked the second who checked ours……..Talk about a utter waste of federal funds.
But you can only work on the right side of a road and only make right turns and stay withing the yellow highlighted part of the map on the HHC…GPS marker I did that and on my first day the genius that was my crew leader came out and told me i had done everything wrong, deleted all my work, threatened to fire me (now i know he couldnt have done it since i had not failed two observations but he was just some fat guy trying to feel like some sort of authority in this world he was a mortage broker after all. i think he is a prick myself and just a fat nerd that has never had any power in his life and this went to his head) but after he ran his mouth to me like a idiot for THREE LONG MIND NUMBING HOURS and deleted all the work i spent a few hours doing, the fat bastard says…..”Oh you were right with what you did in the first place” you friggin fat under achieving washed up has been, i just looked at him as if he was literally talking through the hole of his backside. He did not say “sorry” “pardon me” “I am very sorry for threatening to fire you”…not a damn word.
That was our first day out after training for a week. Well my last day the other crew leader meets me to do a observation. Now remember i have only had two days in the field i was “sick” for three and I did have a dr excuse. I did feel bad and went to my doc and could have went to work but to feel somewhat bad and listen to that fat bastard again i know me very well it would have turned out real ugly. But the second crew leader oh who by the way is now the only crew leader the fat jerk is now training the second group of poor souls coming through. But the second guy a guy with a degree in criminal justice (why is he doing this work and not being a cop or a probation officer? a question i did ask him to “make conversation” but he totally neglected what i asked him. But I am churning along doing my work following along the in the yellow and after walking in the hot sun I hear….Donna Its not going to work out your not in the right area……I said i am in the yellow…….and have been turning right and working on the right side what the hell do you mean. He tells me i am not……….I cant think of how the hell he comes to this conclusion, now remember I was doing this job myself a few days and did good no problems everything was done right. And these are two idiots that have never done what they “trained” us to do so they dont know any more than I do. When Mr Criminal Justice starts to explain what i was doing wrong…….I cut him off after….Well you……I said you know what man……F**k it, and F**k the both of you two guys you dont know any more about this crap than i do and you two seem like two no bodys who are just Jonesing to be a boss but in the end this looks bad on you two guys since now with me being canned it is 75% of the class and in no way does that reflect on us it reflects on you guys” life is to short to deal with idiotsI handed him my bag and other crap and said See ya!
You are so smart to have left at day two trust me. You sound like your a smart person . I know I am I used to be a paramedic and was until I had a child and didnt want the hours anymore and was tired of being shot at and having knifes pulled on me and oh by the way I know how to read a man i drove a ambulance all over one of the Top 3 major cities in this country and right now i am in a small podunk town in the middle of a third would country in america called lousyana…No i am not from here just by a series of bad judgement calls i moved here for family from NY and have regretted it ever since. But after my career as a medic i went to be a health insurance adjuster for a major health insurance company. so waking down a road and looking to the right and turning right at corners does not come as some huge challenge for me. I think it did for the crew leaders though since they were convinced i was wrong and one even said so to then say a few others later i was right in the fist place.
And the pay…..oh yeah they tell ya anywhere from 18-35 a hour…….i was paid 11.50 a hour…..sure is a far cry from 18-35 What saddens me the most, I was proud to do my part for my country. Obama’s speach inspired me to be of service to my fellow American, and I was going to take great pride in helping count people. But when you got crew leaders that dont knwo right from left it makes me wonder if in 2011 are they going to tell us….there are 6,589,568, poodles in america and 1 taco bell dog……….and realize that is what these moroons counted. But while i was walking down the road with the second crew leader the street was a nice street so no worries about leavng the car on the side of the road at the begining of the road and the block was about a mile long………after we went to 4 houses Einstien Mr criminal justice wanted to go back and pick up the cars and bring them down…..I couldnt belive he was that lazy and wanted to waste time walking back to get our cars every three or four houses. I told him….No i am not going to stop every 10 minutes and walk back a few houses get in my car drive it up a few feet gather all my stuff up and have to get re-situated and walk a few more feet to repeat that crap all over again and again…… i said its wasting time and i am not loosing my momentum…..and he is the crew leader who canned me…….and he is in charge of people to count you guys so that we have all the things we are entitled to as Americans…….Are you worried yet? I know i am.
(if there is any mis-spelling in this i am sorry….kid must have been eating at the computer because half of these keys are sticking….)
LOL Chris…I just googled about working at the Census to see if others were having bad experiences too and found your website…..well this page is what it lead me to….I posted my comment on here and then got curious and read your first page “about me” And from what I read Chris…….you would not have lasted anyways, it seems brains is something that will keep ya from the job. After all it doesnt require any sort of brains to look to the right and turn right but they make such a big deal out of it I still can not figure out how i got fired……..i was in the yellow that was on the computer and turning right and going to homes on the right side of the road and the chump said i was doing good until the last block and it was even a street listed on the computer and go figure the address were on my list too…….so how in God’s name i could have been wrong is so beyond me I will never know. I am very sure that I was right like i was the last time someone told me i was wrong and I am not sure if it is because they are stupid hicks in this third world country and they are men, I’m female mabye they have those types of issues…….After all the men in the training class they are all still working……..and i went out in the feild to do team training with one of them and he was so wrong about where to go i had to show him how to do everything and when we got back the two amigos said everything we done was right………..then they found out i was the one responsible for everything being right…….all of a suddent the dots on the map was wrong…..Hmmmmmm sounds funny to me….
But i have been to Roanoke before very pretty place…. I broke down in a uhual truck there to be exact. Spent a entire day in a krogers parking lot. nice krogers though lol….
Yikes….this is quite scary to think of the incredible amount of money being poured into the Census by the federal government. 2 rounds of people checking the original work? Wouldn’t it be better to just make sure the 2nd group is trained enough to verify the original? I’ve often heard of bloated federal government, but this seems to be on a scale that hits much closer to home. This isn’t just the folks in D.C- this is all over the country at each office. God help us!
The training was PURE TORTURE!! exactly how u described it. From the test to the training.
I HAD to endure it and get to work. Well guess what, it seems that the 10 weeks i initially was told at the app. test was down to 8 when I training started. Now it looks like we will be done after 4 weeks including training. This is horrible. I can’t believe that all this trouble for one months worth of work is how it goes down with our govt.
Just to let you know that the information you have give is a violation of federal law. I am sure you probably don’t care(being why you posted). Just letting you know incase you do and did not know.
Letting You Know,
If you are dumb enough to believe that anything I’ve said here violates any law, then you would make a perfect Census Bureau employee.
Where can I appeal. I really need work. I missed only one on the test, which was not the practice test. Passing grade was 10, I got 27. No one has ever called. and I can’t find a real person to talk to. Seems something is rotten here.
anyone know where the appeals board is. Maybe I just fell thru the cracks?
Hi Chris,
Boy, your story sure brings back memories but mine were a little different. I saw an ad also and sceduled to take the test. I was greeted by a completely organized and professional recruiter who efficiently administered the test and paperwork. I scored high (not as high as you) and at the end of the session I spoke with him and expressed my eagerness to help the Census Bureau. A few weeks later I received a call from an admin clerk and was offered a Crew Leader position. I really wasn’t sure what the job entailed but I needed a job so I accepted.
When I reported to training I was again greeted by the same recruiter who was now promoted to Field Operations Supervisor (FOS) because of his excellent recruiting work. Yes, he provided verbatim training which can be boring at times but is neccessary to ensure uniformity among workers – if each instructor teaches his own way and different mistakes are made it would be impossible to correct all the workers due to the fast paced environment. Anyway, it was a little confusing and did require a bit of extra study and effort to get the rules down but after a short time it came together. I can understand why some of the people you came in contact with were not experts yet as they may have been introduced to the material a few days before they had to provide training. Everyone has to learn at a fast pace due to the new training guides and strict schedules.
I then had to train 22 listers in one week which was another challenge but I was determined to succeed. It was difficult to meet all 22 in the field and perform the observations and OJT but I worked hard and was able to build one of the best crews in the FOS district. We stayed ahead of scheduled and gathered good accurrate data during address canvassing. It was very rewarding to have accomplished such a difficult undertaking.
My supervisor then urged me to apply for an assistant manager position in a newly opening Local Census Office so I did (after taking the supervisors test). I received another call a few weeks later from the manager of the Early Local Census Office urging me to apply for a Regional Technician position which had higher pay and benefits. I applied, interviewed, expressed my willingness to help get the job done and I got the position.
I started in early July and have been training and practicing to help manage the two LCO’s that I have been assigned to. I’m also working on deployment of equipment and supplies for the new offices. I will help train the newly hired assistant managers and hope to have the same success I had as a crew leader. I work hard to solve problems and make the Census Bureau a better place to work for everyone I come in contact with. I enjoy the challenge and am certainly thankfull for another opportunity to serve – I’m retired Air Force.
You are right though – everything is not perfect but there are a lot of good people involved with the Bureau who are trying to accomplish an important task for the good of the country. It’s certainly not for everyone but does provide an opportunity for locals to make a little extra cash. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you and that your recruiter and supervisor didn’t have it together but please know that there are more good than bad people involved with the Census Bureau and rest assured the job will get done accurately and on time – the good people will make sure of that and the bad will get weeded out.
I hope that if a future enumerator comes to your door that he or she will display the professionalism and competance that you and every citizen who receives a visit deserves. Thanks for your service Chris, although short, and I hope your faith in the U.S. Census Bureau is not totally lost. Thanks for listening.
You could have learned the system,then stepped up and made it better.that’s how winning teams are made. We need alot of people to take the census,and also make America great again. Looks like you’re not into teams , Jen has got to be a little tired of it!
I took the test, became a crew leader. The training was supposed to last 5 days but due to us being trained in a free public building, most of our classes lasted less than 7 hours per day. This meant we skipped over a lot of important material. And later they expected us crew leaders to train our on listers. I was told I would have an assistant crew leader to help me train 15 to 18 listers. I was given an assistant that had missed half a day of training and she couldn’t read the english language and as we were supposed to train by reading every detail in order to give our listers the best training possible. Also they gave me 47 listers to train. Not enough hand held computers so many had to share during training which didn’t do well. About the third day I got disgusted with this half assed way of training and spoke to my supervisor about it. She fired me. I thought good riddance. But a week later the Regional Director of Training called me and asked why I had quit. I told him I was fired. About an hour later he called me back and asked if I would accept the supervisor’s position. I said yes if he would give me an extra day to train my crew leaders again. He gave me 3 days and furnished all equipment that was needed for the listers later. Since they over hired, we finished the first phase in three weeks, and we did half the state. I opted out for the group quarters training and only did some driving for my state, taking reports and forms to the regional office. Made plenty of money just driving, and they still paid me crew leader hourly pay which was nice. I am a little older than most of the employees in that I am 66 years old. But I have decided to take a crew leader position this one last time. I will find out tomorrow what I will be doing in February 2010 – April 2010. I just hope its not as confusing in training or this time I will quit. I am a retired training instructor for nasa but I have always been given the time and proper equipment for the training for a new job. I have always worked for the government and know this Census 2010 training is not the normal. Whomever set this up was the biggest fool around. Most of the training for each phase should be at least 2 weeks for the crew leaders and the same if not a little more for listers. Also in training according to my regional director we were allowed as much overtime as needed to get the job done. Its just that some idiot supervisiors were trying to impress their bosses by doing a sloppy job. But from what I have heard most of the supervisiors along with crew leaders were changed from one phase to another. But applicants that did pretty good on the test as well as being a veteran gave them a better chance on being called back as long as they hadn’t gotten a poor evaluation in the past. The Census 2010 jobs are pretty easy and pay really good, mostly. When you hear about the $20 to $35 an hour positions. Those are for supervisiors and higher and also have already included overtime which you aren’t supposed to get but it happens. And unless its really outrageous you won’t get fired. The EEO would have a fieldday on the Census Bureau if they fired at the drop of a hat……For a few weeks at the time its pretty good salary and it helped me buy myself a big screen tv…”55″ last March. Thanks Census 2010….and ROLL TIDE ROLL,,,,,,BCS CHAMPIONS FOR 2009 AND WILL DO IT AGAIN IN 2010…
I think it’s pathetic a middle-aged man is forced to take a position that makes 9 dollars an hour; to accept the humility of finding himself of being in such a pathetic state and then to have the HUBRIS to quit. What an arrogant piece of ****. Also it’s truly pathetic that you’re unemployed; I’m 21 years old and was recently without even a high school degree yet I have 2 jobs and one of which pays 12 dollars an hour. Pathetic that someone my age made more than the job you had.
I was called today, three months after getting a 28 out of 28. I am a veteran so I expected I had gotten more than a perfect score with the veterans 5 point preference. The lady that called me told me where to go the date and to bring three things. Canceled check, ID and birth cert. Another lady called me 2 hours later and said that I should report somewhere else instead and changed my ID number. I said why? She said they wanted me to work in a location closer to my home to save on gas money. The new location is 1/2 mile away yet in a different city. I can see now that I may not like this. I am getting a bad vibe. I am a retired engineer and I don’t know if I will be able to work with cattle.
To the original poster:
<<<>>>
Can you please tell us the offenses that will get a person fired from the Census Bureau?
Thanks.
WOW! I start training Tues. so I will blog here, if that’s OK, to let you all know how it goes. I tested in Nov. and got called about 3 weeks ago. This morning I got a call from my trainer and was impressed with her pleasantness and informative style. I have been a business owner for many years and find myself in need of a job. But I would have never thought that I would have to settle for the $13 per hour. Humbling. I, too, aced the exam and was hoping for a supervisor position. BUt I like being out of the office so, …here we go.
Ahahahahah
I called in scheduled my test for the very next day… I was the only person with the I-9 etc… filled out so I sat there for 15 minutes while they did that.
Then the test itself was done in 5 minutes I had to sit there pretending to double check my work to not stare at the patheticness around me. 3 older women didnt get past question 15.
Anyways the guy offered to give my score 28/28 … i then got a call last week saying I would start today Monday…. and that i would get a call from my crew leader saying the exact time and place. I’ve called 3 times since friday never getting a call back and its now 8:33 am monday. Even called at 8 am and went straight to their voicemail.
Sigh
I was hired took the training and on Friday at lunchtime was told to turn in my bag and badge and that I could not work for the Census Bureau. I asked why and was told by my crew leader that he didn’t know anything other than I had been “red flagged”. I called the LCO and was told my background check shows me as a “risk” and I would receive a letter from Washington with more info. I did receive a letter from Washington and it said either I showed up in the FBI database or I put something on my paperwork that they needed more information on. I don’t have any criminal background. The letter also stated that the Bureau does not fire people for having a criminal background and they just need to make sure that the citizens are safe (from people like me I guess). They thanked me for my patience during their investigation.
I don’t understand because I was definately told by my crew leader that I could not work for the Census any more. I have not been able to get any more information.
The same thing happened to me yesterday, but I was already working in the field. My crew leader met up with me and said that he had to terminate me because I failed my background check. Huh?? I don’t even have a moving violation on my record. Now I have to get in touch with his boss to see if she has any more info. My CL did tell me the same thing happened to his friend who was training to be a crew leader, his fingerprints apparently were a close match to a terrorist or something. He got hired back two weeks later. But, it sounds like we will be done in 2 weeks here. I don’t know how because we just got started. But, now I have to find out what black mark is out there against me and the way things are run here, I’m not so hopeful of ever finding out. There are some really bright people working here but the bureaucray is really hampering those of us trying to do a good job.
I worked in the 2000 census. Was to go in for my fourth day of training today and was just told to turn in my bag… I was red flagged. I called the office and they didn’t even ask my name and told me that I would be getting a letter in the mail. Oh Great! I missed my Son’s wedding yesterday because I couldn’t get out of this training, and now I get red flagged.
I have no criminal history, hell I hardly have a speeding ticket! WTH
I received a second letter from Washington. It says: “We have reviewed your fingerprint record from the FBI criminal history database, as well as the past criminal history information disclosed on the Optional Form (OF) 305 you completed at hire. Based on the nature of the facts disclosed, we were not able to make a favorable determination regarding your continued employment. Your employment with the Census Bureau is terminated immediately.” It was interesting to me that they were able to complete this so quickly since they had dated the first letter April 29 and the second letter April 30. Also, interesting that I have no criminal history so I don’t know what they are saying they reviewed. The only information I disclosed on any form at hire was regarding a traffic ticket that has been taken care of. Since the first letter said that they do not terminate employees for having an arrest record and the second letter terminates me for “facts disclosed” I am completely confused.
Making the whole thing worse, after waiting weeks for my first paycheck, I checked my account yesterday and found no deposit was made. When I called the payroll number I had been given, I was transfered back to the local office where the person told me not to worry because it had been deposited but could take awhile to show up. He said his never shows up until Sunday even though payday is Wednesday. I have never heard of such a thing. He said I needed to wait several days and then if nothing shows I could call back and they would look into it for me.
Has anyone else had trouble getting paid?
I did actually get paid for my training week. I still have not received any letter from Washington regarding why I was terminated. I went through a background check last year for my current part time job and was clean. If I don’t get an answer soon I will go through other channels to find out. I have been telling people what happened and the stories I hear are scary, my neighbor’s 5 year old nephew is on the no-fly list.
The only thing I can think of is the status of my student loans. I was out of deferrment for a couple of months but I never got a bill or statement even though I was kind of looking for one. Usually when people want money they can find you so, I would be surprised if that was it but that is the only thing I can think of that would ring a bell. Either way I am going to get an answer.
OK…I just left a meeting where my entire crew has been put on “non working status”. All 18 of us! This means that we are still employed but cannot continue in the field. We also had to turn in EVERYTHING to the CL! I have been in the field two weeks and have racked up plenty of EQs for the hours worked. i was even the CLA (Assistant). By far the most unorganized organization i have ever dealt with.
I have been an enumerator for three weeks-one training and two work. Yesterday, Sunday, May 16, I learned from my crew leader that I needed to turn in my badge and equipment because I had been terminated due to the application process. I called the local office and am now waiting to learn their reason for terminating my services. I scored well on the tests and do not have a criminal background. But I have large law school loans which I have had difficulty paying because I have been out of work. This may be the reason for their action. I understand their wish to protect the govt from liability. But I think they have taken the matter to the extreme. I had read in some article or blog on the internet that one person had lost her newly obtained job with the federal government because she had experienced problems repaying her school loans. Having this knowledge I had been afraid that I would not be called for training with the Bureau. But my flailing heart received a boost when I got a call from them. Now, three weeks after starting to work I find myself right back in the place of having no way of paying my loans.
I won’t complain about the work itself. I enjoyed walking around my neighborhood and speaking with residential occupants though I found the Bureau itself to be very trying because of insufficient work, and constantly changing schedules of meetings with last-minute notices of such changes. But I was willing to put up with the negativews in order to earn sufficient money to pay the next couple of months of my school loans and as well as set aside money for the time I will be studying for the Bar.
I am a Christian and so believe in the importance…no…necessity, of mercy in order for our world to be tolerable. Now, unfortunately, I see that mercy and grace are not things I can anticipate receiving from my government. I hope I find it somewhere in my sphere or reach. So far those who seem to have it tend to lack the ability to help and visa versa. I’m off to continue looking. Wish me well.
So here I sit. Waiting for the LCO to call and set up an appointment for our entire crew to be re-fingerprinted after they were all lost. I received a letter from the Commerce Dept that I was to call them, BUT they insist that they will call me.
Stay tuned.
I sure feel better knowing I’m not the only one who experienced problems. A whole crew on non-work status, now that is a good one! Unfortunately, since these are hard times, these are experiences are not funny.
I checked with my bank and found no deposit was pending so called the number for payroll again. This time I was able to find out that they had the wrong account number input for me. Of course the person I spoke with said, “Oh YOU have the wrong account number here” as if it was my fault. Anyway, I had to call the LCO and explain it to them and tell them to call the Regional Office right away. I don’t know if they did it or not. I am supposed to wait for them to call me and let me know when I can expect to get paid. I’m not holding my breath though.
Sometimes the mercy you seek can only be found within yourself.
Good Luck everyone and have a good week!
Hey former enumerator. You’ve given me food for thought.
Day 4 of “non working status”
As it turns out all of the fingerprints our crew had taken the first day of training never made it ti the FBI. We all have to travel the 1 hour to the home office and have them done again. It will take another 3 to 5 days for clearance. So my entire crew will miss a week of work.
That’s right…18 of us have been out in the field, knocking on doors, with zero background check!
However, by far the most frustrating part is that no one seems to really care. The LCO was gong to just let this sit in the federal govt perpetua abiss if I hadn’t kept calling to figure this thing out.
To all of us who were red-flagged I think we need to find out how this is considered in terms of looking for future employment. Is this a termination of employment? These people had and could have collected the additional information from us in order to make a determination of our suitability to work for them prior to employing us. However, they choose to do it after employing us, thinking only of their convenience while demonstrating a reckless disregard for the effect a termination could have on the reputations of those they were employing.
If their reckless action will not have a negative impact then fine. But if it will and does then we need to consider our options.
I know it had an impact on my being able to reopen my unemployment case since it is considered a termination in my case any way. The other thing that has bothered me so much is that my class was made up of many of my neighbors from within a few block radius. I was originally excited that I had met several women around my age who live very close to me. Now they are wondering what I have in my background that was so bad. I’m sure they are wondering whether I am some sort of criminal or dangerous person. Sure I explained to one of them by phone what the situation is, but they don’t know me, so how are they supposed to believe my story. If I was in their shoes, I’d have my reservations, especially if I hadn’t of Googled to see how many other people have had similar experiences.
So, as silly as it my sound, I feel like my reputation or “good name” or how ever you want to put it, has been damaged.
In fact, the repercussions of this brief employment are mounting for me. Since I didn’t get paid, I have not been able to pay my rent and I have to tell the whole unbelievable story to my landlord and hope he doesn’t think I am hiding something. To say that I was terminated for an error on their part and then I didn’t receive my check because of an error on their part, sounds like something I made up. I agree that the folks I have spoken to at the LCO and the Regional Office have been not only unconcerned but outright rude and snarky to me. They treat me as if I did something to deserve all of this. I worked for the Census April 27 through April 30 and still have no answers and no pay.
I am requesting my background investigation file from them but I imagine that will take some time. Since I already know I do not have a criminal history that they refer to, I don’t expect the investigation file to tell me much anyway.
Thanks. Good Luck to you all.
Hello Former Enumerator. First, be careful how you use the contacts you made as a result of your work with Census. Second, from what I know of unemployment this should not affect your ability to obtain it. However, I speak having not yet sought any since I got the call to turn in my badge and baggage. Third, ask them what exactly the found. Get details. Don’t be satisfied with vague justifications. You will need to know exactly why they acted as they did when you are applying for future employment and considering whether to add this very short stinct to your “history of employment.” Also, you should wish to know if there is something on your record that should not be there.
As for me, I contacted my LCO and learned they have no knowledge of why I was rejected. Rather, they told me some other office will be me a letter of explanation. I look forward to receiving it.
Hey former Enumerator, I understand how you feel. I have not received any letter yet explaining this and I’m getting ready to get snarky with the census bureau. I can totally see how they would be rude to you but I would be persistant, if they think you won’t go away then they may get off their ass to get answers. I passed a background check last year so I’m not so apprehensive. I told my boss what happened and he think it’s absolutely ridiculous. Besides my loans (which I am up to date on as far as I know), and a clerical error (which I think happened to all of us), I do have a degree in Middle Eastern Studies. I had a lot of Arab classmates but did not really hang out socially. What if one my classmates ended up in some anti-US organization. It’s very hard to believe because these were the most mild mannered people I associated with at school. But when something like this happens to you , you think of everything. By the way, I got paid again by the census for the 1/2 hour I worked after training week. It’s absolutely ridiculous you did not get paid, that is some lazy ass at your local office not doing their job.
Well. Still awaiting my notice and explanation from the bureau.
Well, last Thursday my CL called and offered me my job back. Someone screwed up and supposedly “heads rolled”. My CL’s boss got screamed at for terminating me instead of placing me on non working status. I still have not decided whether to go back or not. I want to be assured that either A. someone got fired for this or B. I get compensated for the 2 weeks I could have been working. This has been a very irritating experience and while I would really like to make some money this summer, I don’t know if I can handle the bureaucracy. My CL told me people are getting pressured to work at least 20 hours because they want to get done. I already have a part time job at an animal shelter and I can work from 30-40 hours a week depending on the circumstances. I’m also in school part-time so giving an extra 20 hours would be tough.
I have a feeling the same result is coming to the rest of you. Some idiot screwed up and we have to wonder and pay the price.
Congrats! hope things are going well. As for the person’s error, how would his/her loss benefit you…unless you are concerned for others. It is perhaps better to hope he/she has learned to be more careful.
Just did a search for census rescheduling of tests and found your spot online; they just did it again at a level that would floor you… or maybe not.
If you view the entire mess from the standpoint of your having been told, e.g., that you violated some law or other, you know just why the census is so messy. Simply, really, because it is so messy. Good answer, yes?
If you see the supervisor/crew leader self study guide (# I forget, try D-something, ar ar ar), the first thing covered is the D-282 and 283- conduct/performance problems notice and termination form. How’s that for a positive start? Better, the sample reason given for axing is “used language that is not tolerated”. There’s a BIG clue to the way the whole shebang works. Not tolerated? What’s that? By whose army? “This job sucks”? “Your mom wears combat boots”? “I think I have a better idea”?
So much of the decision process, in spite of all these stupid rules and forms, is left up to someone who 1) Didn’t have a job so looked here and got one, 2) went through all of about 4 days training, 3) likely as not has some major personality issues hence #1, and 4) is facing tons of subjective stupid rules just for the sake of rules.
In the D-503 Security and Logistics manual:
“Transporting Confidential Census Material:
Do not use the term confidential. This is used only in matters affecting national security.”
But didn’t you just call it confidential Census Material? And the label that is stuck on the envelope:
CENSUS- CONFIDENTIAL
This document contains information the release of which is prohibited blah blah…”
Elsewhere in this bible:
“Expendable equipment, such as pallet jacks, hand trucks…”
On THE NEXT PAGE:
“Non expendable equipment:
Fire extinguishers, pallet jacks, hand trucks….”
And people working under this c===p are supposed to act rationally?
(BTW, nothing here is PII, so it gets released… And saying you got the practice test, freely avail online as well as at your session, is way outdoors from violating anything. Calling it a D-222A is OK too)
Speaking of forms, the D-186… maybe- it’s been awhile, or a couple of pages from the 58x manuals cover ethics/post employment restrictions. It’s pretty clear that Former Enumerator isn’t representing someone against the government or swaying votes, so I would guess no problem, but again, the census likes to bring out the laying down laws in people, and I think it’s a domino/pecking order thing. I always err on the side of people’s doing what gets them along together without clobbering each other (as happened at one LCO between AMs) for a start.
And I know about the pay thing. The office typically pays less, but is longer lasting. They of course put the highest rate on the poster. Not that it’s right, but it seems to be a sales pitch non compris to grab as many as they can quick, before sacking them just as quick a few weeks in. We got 500 D-283 (problem sacking) forms and 1000 D-282 (problem warning) ones at the start, for about 1400 people. All forms gone in two weeks. Even the Russian army didn’t kill all of its men for performance problems, and they’re legendary for knocking off their own…
There are CL/supervisor clones of the fat test-lady everywhere. We’re all lucky for not getting her.
Oh- it occurred to me in the shower, I think it’s 222.1. The real tests are A/B/C/D. Consistency is pretty special at the census…
thanks