Journal Entry #87 - First time for Everything...Workplace Hostile Environment Teleworking for United States Federal Government and Got Check Shorted Not By Classification, but based on Optional Notes

 JOURNAL ENTRY #87

Name: Manley M Collins

Social Security Number: 5 7 9 – * * – 6 5 4 1

Date of Birth: 06/21

Place of Birth: Washington, District of Columbia

Country of Birth: United States of America

Date: July 1, 2026

TOPIC: First time for Everything...Workplace Hostile Environment Teleworking for United States Federal Government and Got Check Shorted Not By Classification, but based on Optional Notes

I thought working for the government in an entry position, and as separated employee via the intermittent or temporary classification by the Census department, would have been easy. The policies in place are crazier than the all the so-called rules for life.  The Census thought I abide by those rules of life as an extreme extrovert.

First, the work environment was okay that the regional office or headquarters team members were call at 7 am or 7:30 am to handle tasks or have a conversation.  Mind you, Census Human Resources Department states Census is open from 7 am to 7 pm.  The position as field representative states only to call respondents or respondents can call me from 9 am to 9 pm.  I cannot bill all that time to be available for their schedules.

The call(s) and texts that broke the camel's back was when my field supervisor decides to call on my day off from all my employers.  I also sent in an optional work schedule weekly, but the field supervisor argued for a good hour and half over timesheet language in an optional notes field and all the performance emails after every cycle.  Guess what happened...payroll rejected those line items pertaining to the argumentative day and Friday's argument.  I went to DC DOES Office of Wage Hour to report the wage theft and short.  DC DOES OWH stated the United States Government is not in their jurisdiction.  I sent out mass emails removing my personal cellphone from the situation, and the Census paid for the CAPI laptop device to communicate.  I also sent complaints to Human Resources Department for the hostile work environment because my field supervisor was doing double talk stating the opposite of everything I was trained on, and thinking I was an USPS Postal mail carrier.  Human Resources Accommodations team paused my mental health request because the letter by my psychiatrist was insufficient, and HR Accommodations wanted a full dissertation on how my mental health and medications affect my work.

I considered myself a star performer because I am/was very efficient in getting folks to respond to a 45-minute to an hour survey.  I remove being intelligent, assertive-aggressive, and efficient from giving my all to the position.  The geographical areas I am covering is Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC.  I also removed my broadband data support for the Census CAPI laptop.  The telephone policy was dated 2019 and only covers plans that have billable minutes, such as 200 minutes for Census business over your plan of 100 minutes, can be submitted.  No support for unlimited plans with data, texts, and calls.

In my Human Resources requests and claims, I had to incorporate what I learned legally from the legal field.

This is my first position in my entire career where I am billing for real work and real time, and zero fluff, and return to Business versus Personal.  All the corrections back and forth is so much of a stress reliever for me, but frustration for Census Bureau because they cannot talk to me on my personal cellphone without getting a police report.  Learning from these strangers, the income people make versus rent/mortgage on what people pay made my reflection on my career, relationships, and housing look stumped, stupid, and how could people single-handledly bust way above all ceilings, or stay in the same spot for 25+ years and keep the same rent back in the early 2000s.

My credit score finally went up into the 600s when I reported all the type of paid bills including rent.  I support Zillow, CreditClimb, and Esusu.  Experian Boost is really good too, and I am unsure why Equifax and TransUnion do not do the same.

My civil case versus Jet Security went from Federal Court back to State Court.  This is the first time Federal Court did it without a hearing, but I received an Artificial Intelligence (AI) marketing email summarization of the decision, why, and more information I pretty much already knew about the United States and judge decision.

I did not have the budget to hold a milestone birthday party so my mind was telling me to visit Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  It was fun, but 50% of the time was at the hotel because of the torrential thunderstorms.  The Marriott hotel I selected in Midtown Montreal had two conjoined hotel brands - Courtyard and Residence Inn.  I was near Burger King and Walmart Supercenter.  The Canadian dollar was way less than the United States dollar.  After taking a walking tour of Old Montreal and Montreal downtown explained all the transitions Quebec and Montreal went through.  I did see Cresent Street. I rode the STM public transportation network.  I used the Teo cab application.  I forgot my Izzy Miyake cologne by rushing out of the room.  Delta did a wonderful job going to Montreal, and storms and turbulence made the Delta trip back to Atlanta and Washington, DC a little rough and no snacks.  Thanks to Delta for getting me to all my destinations safely and keeping me updated. My emotions and feelings does feel quite different than last year.  It is a feeling of how to care for others without damaging my own protected world.  Just like the YouTube video, "When you have endured too much."

Borrower's Defense by the United States Department of Education did not work because my application was denied for Keller Graduate School of Management because the loan was too old.  It is now dependent on my TPD application.  This made me really reflect back on all the financial decisions I made when the loan could have been paid off.

I feel pretty good about choosing to teach group fitness classes at local DMV gyms.  My e-bike had a massive rear tire blowout.  I did not budget on getting it fixed early, but plan to in August or September.  My Markel full coverage insurance on the e-bike lapse and canceled because I overinsured the bike.  I was not riding the e-bike daily so I know insurance is not needed especially when I have three different locks to secure it.

I ran in a PVTC all comers meet and won my 200m heat while still running 30.5 seconds at 182 lbs.  I long or broad jumped to 14 feet 4 inches.  I ran the 100m dash in 14.4 seconds.  It was held at Alexandria City High School in Alexandria, Virginia.  I also ran in the Easter 5K held at Bluemont Park.  I have attended and am attending PVTC team meetings.  I attended the LA28 Olympics Volunteer webinar.

Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc elected a new slate of officers.  Some positions were a surprise on who was serving in them, but it does keep the chapter interesting.  It was passed down some of the Mu Lambda blazer and other blazers.  It cost quite a bit to get alterations.  I took the American Red Cross online course for my Adult and Pediatric First Aid/AED/CPR plus the in-person class version at the Mu Lambda house.  My article was published in the Torch.

I got my Greater Orangeburg Polo Shirt from the Polo fundraiser the SCSUNAA Greater Orangeburg Chapter was having.  I attended SCSUNAA DC Chapter Hangout at Yard House in Gallery Place-Chinatown.  It was fun and I made some new friends, and met a former USDA colleague.  I did my usual and did not go with flow of where those new friends were going.  I attended SCSUNAA DC Chapter Cookout and it was so good to see line brothers and members I have not seen in a long time.  Also, it was in an undiscovered part of Anacostia Park.  The walk from the metro station was amazing.  I passed so many graduation parties, family reunion parties, etc.  I had to register and prepare for my first SCSUNAA National Convention.  It seems not many people was interested in Busch Gardens since I got a refund back, but I did register for the Gala dinner.

I went to my dental cleaning at Tend Dental.  It went smooth.  Delta Dental was changing their payment policies on dental plans so I sought a new dental plan.  I came out better with Cigna Dental PPO because it includes orthodontist, higher deductible, and lower premium payment.

The change in the Medicare payments did not impact too much on my monthly income.  I guess life definitely lets discipline come in later after life shows the crazy.  My financial discipline has always been strict, but now it stricter than when I first started working.

I attended a Meetup for Gen X (30s 40s 50s) and it was at the Lucky Bar in Dupont Circle.  It was more of a sign up for social gatherings at local establishments.  I met some interesting people and international folks.  I was greeted by a guy named Mer, which he led me straight to the bar.  I do not knock what bars and nightclubs have to do to stay alive. Yes, I am glad establishments serve Ginger Beer when requested.  My body or mental health immediately rejects or slows intake of any alcohol.

I did attend Group Fitness meeting at New York Sports Club.

I saw the Devil Wears Prada 2 movie in the theatres.  Thanks to T-Mobile Tuesdays, I saw Masters of the Universe. Both movies were really good in my opinion.

I had my second physical at Unity Healthcare.  The Together Take Me Home non-profit sends me HIV home screening self-tests.  The self-tests are oral swab and fingerstick.  CVS Pharmacy calls me on regarding taking a statin because I am on Metformin diabetic medication.  I have to remind CVS that the medication is being taken for alopecia (hair loss) or something else.  I saw the dermatologist for the second time and it was major progress between the first and second visit regarding hair growth.

I met with my new DC DOES workforce specialist since my last workforce specialist retired.  I met with my DC RSA DDS counselor to update work plan.  It seems all systems are now cutting resumes down to two pages.  As my workforce specialist suggested cutting my resume from ten (10) to two (2) pages.  It was a task, but I was able to do it.

I got a Las Vegas postcard from one of my aunts.  I mailed her a Montreal postcard back.

I joined University of Phoenix and Mu Lambda Chapter Group Me groups.

It is so funny reading and watching the comparison between Obama vs Trump events.  Congratulations to the candidates winning a position in the next DC Election in November.

Congratulations to all the World Cup teams invited to play.

Thanks to the birthday wishes and giveaways by Delta Airlines, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and Marriott.

On streaming television, my show Zatima is really good and all the track and field championships/outdoor series.

Via the news, now the United States residents want the physical CDs, albums, DVDs, and cassette tapes due to overpriced streaming platforms, which I or no one has ownership of their purchases.  I had a pretty good collection before I lost it. People are at the mercy of the Corporate American company.  This is going to be interesting. Companies are building out data centers, but technology's physical devices lifespan are 18 months to 5 years to become obsolete.  So, my question is, "Who is replacing all that equipment with the next version of technology?"  Data Centers upgrading energy infrastructure who, what, when, where, and how?

I did not play the Mega millions or Powerball lottery this quarter, but do have my lottery ballots ready for when I am ready to make the $300 sacrifice.

I did get a call about an affordable condo property, but with all these homeowner association news raising prices from affordable $150 per month to mortgage payments $2250 per month has me concerned what am I getting for amount.  I talked with a real estate homebuilder and sent my questions on the EYA Reservoir District, but I have yet to hear back.  EYA stayed firm no cash desls and yes, the price stays at $899,000 to $1.5 million dollars in 2026, when I know DC will do a tax assessment of $350,000.  The house I lost to foreclosure, I paid $575,000 for more space and same three levels/stories.  What am I getting in a EYA townhouse for all that price?

Happy Independence Day and Happy 250th Birthday United States of America.