Telework
POPA employees have telework opportunities depending on their business unit and their position eligibility. Most POPA employees can participate in telework. Any employee who has been disciplined for accessing pornography or being AWOL is statutorily not permitted to telework.
POPA Telework Agreements for the different business units:
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Patents POPA employees have the following options (both programs include secondary alternate worksites):
- Patents Fulltime Telework Program (PFTP) - (PFTP includes the options of hoteling, 50 mile or TEAP, which are described in the agreement)
- Patents Partial Telework Program (PPTP)
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CFO and CIO POPA employees OCFO/OCIO Telework Program
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OGC POPA employees OGC Telework Program
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PTAB POPA employees PTAB Telework Program
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OPIA POPA employees OPIA Telework Program
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OGA POPA employees OGA Telework Program
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New remote hires telework program
TEAP Agreement - for employees on a full time telework program and living more than 50 miles from any USPTO office
Legislative Prohibitions on Telework
Time Zones and Automation Systems Maintenance Times
As a reminder to Patents employees please note the following information regarding local time zones and automation systems maintenance periods for Patents automated systems such as PE2E, etc.
The work schedules of all non-teleworkers and partial teleworkers are in the time zone of their USPTO office.
The work schedules of all full time teleworkers are in the time zone of their approved alternate worksite.
All employees need to be aware that computer system maintenance times are all Eastern Time and as follows:
- Sunday 10:00 pm until Monday 5:30 am
- Monday Midnight until Tuesday 5:30 am
- Tuesday Midnight until Wednesday 5:30 am
- Wednesday Midnight until Thursday 5:30 am
- Thursday Midnight until Friday 5:30 am
- Friday 10:00 pm until Saturday 9:00 am
- Saturday 10:00 pm until Sunday 9:00 am
Computer system availability hours are NOT the same as work schedule, overtime, compensatory time and credit hour time bands. Employees need to be aware that automated systems may not be available during computer maintenance time and they will need to adjust their work hours accordingly.
Also, the core hour each week for Patent examiners/POPA bargaining unit employees is Thursday 1:00-2:00 pm (local time). Exceptions: OPIA (Wednesday, 2-3pm, ET), OCFO/OCIO (Tuesday, 1-2pm, ET), for employees on a part time schedule, see the part time agreement.