The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) faces unique challenges amid discussions on altering telework policies. With 96% of its employees permanently remote, spread nationwide (including in Washington, DC and Puerto Rico), and telework dating back to 1997, a sudden shift could strain operations.
Additionally, some applicable collective bargaining agreements safeguard workers with telework provisions, and office capacity may not accommodate all returning employees. The potential removal of telework could trigger a significant employee exodus. These factors highlight the complexities involved in adjusting telework policies at the USPTO.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office would be uniquely harmed if forced to follow the Trump administration's return to office mandate, given its nearly 30-year history of telework that has led to 96% of its employees being permanently remote.
www.law360.com/...
