census, some job huh?

I was so glad to be able to work for the census, I was told it would last from six to eight weeks. You couldn't beat the pay; I was going to be paid $16 dollars a hour. When I took the test they told us it would be $16.95. They would pay for our mile-age, and we could do some of the work at home over the phone. But you have to remember we're contacting people that might not wish to be bothered, who hide in the house until you leave their porch. But the most were very cooperative..if you could catch them at home.

The job was great, I was getting 4-5 completed census a day...but that all ended last week when our crew leader told us we would be expected to bring in 2 completed census per each hour we worked. Anything less would be unacceptable. I thought "this could not be true", so I told the crew leader it would hard to meet this quota because it was not guaranteed you would be able to catch people at home. And sometimes it would take them long to respond to the notice we left. He replied you must work over 18 hours a week or you will be terminated. Which automatically meant you would terminate yourself by trying to keep up with your quota.

It seemed like this all happen yesterday, but in reality it was four days ago Tuesday. I reported to the crew leader's meeting In the morning and turned in 10 completed census for eight hours worked. I was told to turn in all my census material and I would be terminated unless I went out to make up the difference on my own time. That was it, for the last week I was on edge for the new pressures of the job and it seemed like every day they would tag on something more to the dilemma. I stood up and said "this is it, I'm not doing any slave labor, and I better be paid for the time I am here now." A white lady then suddenly spoke "I have my two census for my one hour I worked yesterday. I immediately looked to her and said, " you know you worked more than one hour." The crew leader's widened his beady eyes at my response, he then showed me an e-mail pertaining what he just told me. Which could have came from any one. I said a few words about calling the EEO, then left.

I found out today that they hired four new people. The rules have changed a little, they still need to complete two census for each hour they work. But they will not get terminated now, they will only get written-up if they do not meet their quota and fired if they don't get in 18 hours.

Melvin a black Census worker went out at night with a flashlight working for free trying to meet his quota. The suburb of Royal Oak didn't take to well to a black man knocking on their door at night with a flashlight, so they just didn't answer the door. He is lucky they didn't call the police. They just took the notice after he left and called in the next day about his unusual behavior.

In the end he couldn't keep up with his quota. So he resigned before they fired him. They even have the nerve to tell him. It would make his work record look better if he resigned.

Melvin was in the group that I was hired in. He and other just fell by the waist-side trying to kept this job. The stress, over-work without pay, hanging on by a thread could only last so long.

I couldn't believe that I was the only one that would not go along with this. It is sad because one day they will think back and remember this and how they were forced to do this because of the bad economy. I will look back laugh..... and think "Census, some job huh?"