[Patentpractice] USPTO employees ordered to "return to office"

Fri Jan 24 23:06:56 UTC 2025

Here are the emails sent to examiners:

From: Vaishali Udupa, Commissioner for Patents <CommissionerforPatents at USPTO.GOV<mailto:CommissionerforPatents at USPTO.GOV>>
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2025 6:00 PM
Subject: Fw: Return to Office

Dear Colleagues,

Following up on the USPTO Broadcast Message, in view of the Executive Order and OPM guidance on telework, USPTO will be developing an implementation plan for return to office. There is no requirement for you to take any immediate action. Your supervisors will work directly with you as part of the implementation plan. That said, if you do have an assigned office or available space to work in person, we would like you to maximize your time in person during this transition period.

As the message states, non-bargaining, fully remote workers (i.e., those with a 50-mile program or TEAP agreement) will receive separate guidance.

Thank you,

Vaishali Udupa
Commissioner for Patents

From: USPTO Broadcast <USPTOBroadcast at subscriptions.uspto.gov<mailto:USPTOBroadcast at subscriptions.uspto.gov>>
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2025 5:40:02 PM
To: Udupa, Vaishali <Vaishali.Udupa at uspto.gov<mailto:Vaishali.Udupa at uspto.gov>>
Subject: Return to Office

Agency Broadcast
Return to Office
Notice to Employees
The purpose of this email is to notify you of President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum, Return to In-Person Work<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2025%2F01%2Freturn-to-in-person-work%2F%3Futm_campaign=subscriptioncenter%26utm_content=%26utm_medium=email%26utm_name=%26utm_source=govdelivery%26utm_term=/1/010001949a78fbce-6e2adea1-7662-4ad0-b141-58e250c1247e-000000/kb-V0N8W9mSFwFisXdX9u3oek5OJ2hzecAWZKdwQydE=389>. The USPTO will be fully complying with the President’s Memorandum and associated Guidance<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FUSOPM%2F2025%2F01%2F23%2Ffile_attachments%2F3140617%2FOPM%2520Return%2520to%2520Office%2520Guidance%2520Memorandum%25201-22-25.pdf/1/010001949a78fbce-6e2adea1-7662-4ad0-b141-58e250c1247e-000000/YRCEB7xUWCq4Zop45zU0TRxS2zw0nMQsyNY9IBsqs9E=389> from the Office of Personnel Management.
In-Person Work
In accordance with President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum, Return to In-Person Work<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2025%2F01%2Freturn-to-in-person-work%2F%3Futm_campaign=subscriptioncenter%26utm_content=%26utm_medium=email%26utm_name=%26utm_source=govdelivery%26utm_term=/2/010001949a78fbce-6e2adea1-7662-4ad0-b141-58e250c1247e-000000/fUuo7UbWoyZRqlSeuNNkhyhhnDHvoEpBOno0HerV51c=389>,and corresponding Guidance<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FUSOPM%2F2025%2F01%2F23%2Ffile_attachments%2F3140617%2FOPM%2520Return%2520to%2520Office%2520Guidance%2520Memorandum%25201-22-25.pdf/2/010001949a78fbce-6e2adea1-7662-4ad0-b141-58e250c1247e-000000/cPUORz9qN8fVttmVOEVJB0c-pBWc8R2t0dHUTdffvBk=389> from the Office of Personnel Management, the USPTO no longer permits regular and recurring telework. Employees should work full time at their respective worksites/duty stations.
Employee Exemptions
This memorandum does not apply to employees that have been excused from compliance due to reasonable accommodations consistent with the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or another compelling reason certified by the Acting Director or her designee and the employees’ supervisors. Senior leadership will receive separate instruction concerning the process by which potential exemption cases may be reviewed and certified by the Acting Director.
Bargaining Unit Exemptions
This memorandum does not supersede existing collective bargaining agreements. In collaboration with USPTO leadership, employees covered by collective bargaining agreements addressing telework and remote work should continue to explore methods for maximizing in-person work.
Existing Telework Agreements
All provisions of telework agreements must be canceled immediately, except for those provisions that support situational telework consistent with this email. Situational telework may be approved by supervisors on a case-by-case basis only when there is a written justification outlining the temporary challenge, such as a weather-related facility closure, being addressed and its expected duration.
Existing Remote Work Agreements
Employees with existing remote work agreements will receive separate information about their work status.
Further information will be provided by your supervisor.

Best regards,

-Jim

James C. Larsen
Attorney
Larsen IP PLLC
p: 425.298.6846
e: jim at Larsen-IP.com<mailto:jim at Larsen-IP.com>
w. www.Larsen-IP.com<http://www.Larsen-IP.com>

NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY: The information contained in this email, including any attachments, is confidential and may be privileged. It is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity named herein. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or authorized agent, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Unintended recipients are requested to notify the sender immediately and to permanently delete this e-mail, any attachments, and copies.

From: Patentpractice <patentpractice-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> on behalf of Jim Larsen via Patentpractice <patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com>
Date: Friday, January 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
To: guyvmann--- via Patentpractice <patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Jim Larsen <jim at larsen-ip.com>
Subject: [Patentpractice] USPTO employees ordered to "return to office"
Was just talking to an examiner who received an email while on the phone ordering all USPTO employees to “return to office” due to new DOE mandates.  I suspect this is going to disrupt things.

Best regards,

-Jim

James C. Larsen
Attorney
Larsen IP PLLC
p: 425.298.6846
e: jim at Larsen-IP.com<mailto:jim at Larsen-IP.com>
w. www.Larsen-IP.com<http://www.Larsen-IP.com>

NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY: The information contained in this email, including any attachments, is confidential and may be privileged. It is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity named herein. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or authorized agent, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Unintended recipients are requested to notify the sender immediately and to permanently delete this e-mail, any attachments, and copies.

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