The other side of the Census

[anonymous1122]

My fiancee & I live in Florida, recently she was hired by the Census Bureau & was assigned to the condominium development in which we both currently reside. As it is a condominium neighborhood here in Florida, most of our units are either vacant, foreclosed on or in the process of being both, so tracking down the residents listed to their address has been headache, as many of the units are in legal limbo themselves. Our problem is with our condo management, which even before she was a Census worker was reputable in the neighborhood as inept(did I mention we live in Florida). When she requested their help in determining if the listed homes were vacant or resided in they were belligerently unhelpful & combative at the idea of being approached at all. As a Census worker, dealing with disparaging people is part of her job, so she thought very little of it. Unfortunately, the idea of helping a Census worker is something they took very personally & chose to call her supervisor & complain that she was rude & harassing. A Sheriff's deputy, who was taking an all-too-common report of a neighborhood break-in, was present in their office at the same time she was requesting their help & witnessed the entire conversation, which was neither rude nor harassing from my fiancee. We've contacted him & he's willing to make a statement on her behalf. The problem is, to who? She's to be "counseled" tomorrow morning by her supervisor about the "incident", & may be terminated because of this. Would she have grounds for a Civil case? And if a grievance was to be filed, what federal department would it fall under?

 

[>Charlotte<]

he's willing to make a statement on her behalf. The problem is, to who? She's to be "counseled" tomorrow morning by her supervisor about the "incident", & may be terminated because of this. Would she have grounds for a Civil case? And if a grievance was to be filed, what federal department would it fall under?

The deputy might have an opinion on what he considers rude, but he certainly can't speak for what the person your girlfriend was talking to considers rude. But, that part doesn't really matter.

No, she doesn't have grounds for a civil case. Firing her might be unfair, but it's not illegal.

 

[Hot Topic]

You're assuming that she's going to be terminated. You're assuming that the higher ups at the census board don't understand that census takers have to deal with people who don't want to be "put out" by having to do some research, or paranoid about providing the government with information.

Complaints have to be investigated, however. It's her word against her accusers. If she handles herself professionally, she should be alright. Have her refer to census requirements as often as she can.

You're willing to spend what she has made as a census taker and your own funds to take the matter to court should she be terminated? You'll waste your time and money because nothing illegal will have been done.