Joshua Peguero
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - In an exclusive story, a Fargo woman says she wouldn't recommend anyone working for the United States Census after she claims she hasn't been paid for work she did several years ago.
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Sally Stutlien is part of a class action lawsuit against the federal government and she says she worked for the U.S. Census Bureau from 2006 to 2012 as a field representative.
Why would you work for someone that hasn't paid you for work that you already completed,” Stutlien, who contacted our Whistleblower Hotline, said.
Stutlien said she quit, but then a few years later learned she'd been underpaid during her time there.
“I got a letter in 2016 saying that my name was part of a class action lawsuit against the US Census Bureau and they owed me a significant amount of money,” Stutlien said.
Several court documents that Valley News Live reviewed shows nearly 3500 people from across the country are owed more than $10 million for Census work.
“It's infuriating when I hear them advertising what great employees they are when they're not paying the people that have worked for them in the past,” Stutlien said.
The class action lawsuit claims they weren't paid a premium for working on Sundays. All other federal agencies received extra for working Sundays except field representatives.
According to the lawsuit, Stutlien is owed nearly $3600 and she said you were required to work Sundays.
“They knew the whole time that they were supposed to be paying more and they were paying more to...employees in other branches, but just not the field representatives," Stutlien said.
The federal government tried to get the lawsuit dismissed, but the plaintiffs persisted and won a judgement in 2016.
The lawsuit has gone on for so long, however, that the main plaintiff died in April of 2018 before even getting paid.
Arlene Boop, one of the attorneys, said she's hopeful those who sued will get paid sometime this year.
“We're not talking about any of the terms now because I mean in all settlements there are some compromises, but this class has been waiting for a very long time,” Boop said.
Yet, Stutlien said she doesn't have her fingers crossed that she'll get the full amount.
“Now they're trying to negotiate to pay everyone less than what they're owed,” Stutlien said.
She also said people need to think twice this year before signing up to work for the census.
We reached out to the US Census Bureau and they told us they can't comment on any ongoing litigation.
Sally Stutlien is part of a class action lawsuit against the federal government and she says she worked for the U.S. Census Bureau from 2006 to 2012 as a field representative.
Why would you work for someone that hasn't paid you for work that you already completed,” Stutlien, who contacted our Whistleblower Hotline, said.
Stutlien said she quit, but then a few years later learned she'd been underpaid during her time there.
“I got a letter in 2016 saying that my name was part of a class action lawsuit against the US Census Bureau and they owed me a significant amount of money,” Stutlien said.
Several court documents that Valley News Live reviewed shows nearly 3500 people from across the country are owed more than $10 million for Census work.
“It's infuriating when I hear them advertising what great employees they are when they're not paying the people that have worked for them in the past,” Stutlien said.
The class action lawsuit claims they weren't paid a premium for working on Sundays. All other federal agencies received extra for working Sundays except field representatives.
According to the lawsuit, Stutlien is owed nearly $3600 and she said you were required to work Sundays.
“They knew the whole time that they were supposed to be paying more and they were paying more to...employees in other branches, but just not the field representatives," Stutlien said.
The federal government tried to get the lawsuit dismissed, but the plaintiffs persisted and won a judgement in 2016.
The lawsuit has gone on for so long, however, that the main plaintiff died in April of 2018 before even getting paid.
Arlene Boop, one of the attorneys, said she's hopeful those who sued will get paid sometime this year.
“We're not talking about any of the terms now because I mean in all settlements there are some compromises, but this class has been waiting for a very long time,” Boop said.
Yet, Stutlien said she doesn't have her fingers crossed that she'll get the full amount.
“Now they're trying to negotiate to pay everyone less than what they're owed,” Stutlien said.
She also said people need to think twice this year before signing up to work for the census.
We reached out to the US Census Bureau and they told us they can't comment on any ongoing litigation.
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