The U.S. Census Bureau, part of the Department of Commerce, has its headquarters in Suitland, in Prince George’s County. Its workforce includes statisticians, IT specialists, survey staff, and temporary employees hired for specific projects, and each group has a different mix of protections. A Maryland federal employee attorney will often start by asking how you were hired, because that answer shapes everything else. Below are five workplace protections Census Bureau employees should understand, followed by five Maryland law firms that represent employees in workplace disputes.
What workplace protections do Census Bureau employees have?
1. Does your type of appointment change your protections?
Yes, and at the Census Bureau the difference can be large. Permanent competitive service employees generally gain Merit Systems Protection Board appeal rights after a one-year probationary period. Employees on temporary appointments limited to one year or less generally do not have those rights. Term employees, hired for a set period of more than a year, can gain appeal rights after completing their probationary period. Your SF-50, the official record of your appointment, shows which category applies.
2. What protections apply if the agency proposes to remove or suspend you?
For removals, demotions, and suspensions of more than 14 days, an agency generally must give at least 30 days’ advance written notice, at least 7 days to reply, and a written decision, under 5 U.S.C. § 7513. You are also entitled to see the material the agency relied on. If the action is final and you have appeal rights, you generally have 30 days to file with the MSPB.
3. How are you protected from discrimination?
Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Rehabilitation Act all cover Census Bureau employees, including those on temporary appointments. You must contact an EEO counselor within 45 days of the discriminatory act. The Rehabilitation Act also requires reasonable accommodation for qualified employees with disabilities, so make any accommodation request in writing and keep a copy.
4. Are you protected if you report a problem with data or misconduct?
Yes, through the Whistleblower Protection Act, which covers disclosures of violations of law, gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, and substantial dangers to public health or safety. Retaliation complaints go to the Office of Special Counsel. Census employees face a special limit, though. Title 13 of the U.S. Code makes it a crime to disclose confidential census information, with penalties of up to $250,000 and five years in prison. Any disclosure involving protected data has to go through approved channels, such as the Commerce Department’s Inspector General.
5. What protections apply during reorganizations or reductions in force?
A reduction in force, often called a RIF, must follow federal rules that rank employees by tenure, veterans’ preference, length of service, and performance ratings. Employees who believe the agency miscalculated their standing or placed them in the wrong competitive level can generally appeal to the MSPB. A direct reassignment to a new location is a separate action, and declining one can lead to removal, so get advice before you respond.
Which Maryland law firms help Census Bureau employees?
- The Mundaca Law Firm
- Pines Federal Employment Attorneys
- Obineche Law Firm
- Freedman Law
- Employment Law Center of Maryland
1. The Mundaca Law Firm: Maryland Federal Employee Attorney
The Mundaca Law Firm is led by Francisco E. Mundaca, Esq., Founding Partner, with a Maryland office at 1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway, Suite 300, in Annapolis. The firm represents federal workers at agencies across Maryland, including NIH, FDA, the Social Security Administration, NSA, and military installations with civilian workforces.
For Census Bureau employees, its federal practice covers responses to proposed removals, demotions, and suspensions; MSPB appeals; reductions in force; EEO discrimination and accommodation claims; and whistleblower retaliation complaints before the Office of Special Counsel. Consultations are confidential.
2. Pines Federal Employment Attorneys
A Pikesville, Maryland firm focused on federal employment matters.
3. Obineche Law Firm
A Greenbelt, Maryland firm whose practice includes employment, immigration, and injury matters.
4. Freedman Law
A Maryland employment law firm with offices in Rockville and Columbia.
5. Employment Law Center of Maryland
As its name suggests, this Frederick firm focuses on employment law.
How can Census Bureau employees use these protections?
Start by confirming your appointment type, since it decides whether you can appeal an adverse action. Track the 45-day EEO and 30-day MSPB deadlines, put accommodation requests in writing, and route any disclosure involving confidential data through an approved channel. Keep copies of your appraisals and personnel actions. If you work in Suitland and are facing discipline, discrimination, retaliation, or a reduction in force, a Maryland federal employee attorney can help you understand which protections apply to you.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.