Patent Office suspends telecommuting program

Officials at the Patent and Trademark Office have put a popular telecommuting program on hold while they negotiate the terms of a new program with an employee union.

"We had a pilot program that was in effect until June 1. It has expired and we have been in discussion with our union about establishing a new pilot program," said PTO spokesman Richard Maulsby.

Leaders of the Patent Office Professional Association (POPA), which represents about 3,600 PTO employees, say the agency's decision to halt the program during negotiations is a "heavy-handed way of forcing changes in the program."

Union officials say they oppose a request by PTO that the Patent Office work-at-home program be renewed annually, requiring negotiations. The agency also wants the ability to terminate the telecommuting program at any time. POPA also opposes another proposal requiring employees to count as personal time any work time lost due to glitches on PTO provided software.

PTO officials declined to comment on the specifics of the negotiations.

"Rather than allowing the program to continue while we negotiate new terms in good faith, the agency issued an ultimatum and slammed the doors on work-at-home when we didn't agree," said POPA President Ronald Stern. "Many employees bought computers, office furniture, and rearranged their homes to participate in this program. Even more importantly, many reorganized their home lives and family schedules, and then were figuratively stranded by the agency."

PTO has been a telecommuting leader among federal agencies since it established a two-year pilot project in 1997, allowing 18 examining attorneys to work from home. The measure began as a way to help retain employees and relieve office overcrowding at the agency.

Last year the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments awarded the agency its 2001 Commuter Connections Employer Recognition Telework Award. The award recognizes employers who initiate programs that encourage the use of commuting alternatives.

"It is our intention to continue with the telecommuting program and we simply need to come to an agreement with POPA," Maulsby said.

By law, federal agencies must establish policies allowing eligible employees to telecommute. The fiscal 2001 Transportation Appropriations bill set a goal of having 25 percent of the federal workforce participating in telecommuting programs at least part of the time by April 2001. Just 4.2 percent of federal workers were telecommuting as of last November, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

The telecommuting move comes at a time when PTO officials have announced major changes in its patent review system, and has proposed to lay off up to135 trademark examining attorneys by Sept. 30.