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

Sat Jan 25 00:25:32 UTC 2025

It's almost as if people forgot that teleworking was authorized by law, and
the law is above an Executive Order in terms of authority.

Same issue with the push to fire anyone who is "DEI" hire (by which they
mean not white or not male). The Civil Rights Act is still in force,
despite all that Trump & crew say.

Judith

On Fri, Jan 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM Jim Larsen via Patentpractice <
patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:

> Here are the emails sent to examiners:
>
>
>
> *From:* Vaishali Udupa, Commissioner for Patents <
> 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>
> *Sent:* Friday, January 24, 2025 5:40:02 PM
> *To:* Udupa, Vaishali <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
> w. 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
> w. 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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