Work Schedules

Work Schedules

See CBA Article 19

POPA employees currently have 4 work schedules available: the increased flextime program, compressed (4/10 or 5/4/9), fixed 8 hour, and flexible 8 hour.

Increased Flextime Program (IFP)

  • Work 80 hours per pay period, Monday – Saturday
  • Mon-Sat: 4:30am-11:59pm (local time)

  • Minimum 4 days per week

  • Midday flex available

  • IFP credit hours can be worked on Sundays

Compressed Schedules

  • Work Monday – Friday
  • Choose either 9 hour days (and one 8 hour day and one day off per pay period)
    • OR 10 hour days (same day off – Mon, Wed, or Fri – each week)
  • Hours must be set between 4:30 am and 11:59 pm (local time)
  • No midday flex

Fixed 8 hour Work Schedule

  • 8 hour days, Monday-Friday, must be set between 5:30 am – 10:00 pm (local time)
  • Set times must be on quarter hour increments
  • No flex time, no midday flex

Flexible 8 hour Work Schedule

  • Work 8 hours per day, Monday-Friday
  • Work between 4:30 am and 11:50 pm (local time)
  • Midday flex available

Patent Training Academy (PTA) Work Schedule Guidelines - See CBA, Article 18

 

Work Schedule Notification

The USPTO Work Schedule Notification Policy sets forth certain requirements for all full-time teleworkers.

Hotelers must:

  1. Notify their supervisor of the number of hours intended to be worked each week;
  2. Remain logged into PTONET during all working hours; 
  3. Remain logged into Lync, using any presence indicator status except “do not disturb.”

See the policy for more information.

March 2015

Work Schedules Notification Policy

 

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, EAST/SEARCH, etc.

The work schedules of all non-teleworkers and PTP examiners are in the time zone of their USPTO office. 

The work schedules of all PHP examiners 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: 

  • Monday - Thursday 12 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.
  • Friday 10 p.m. to Saturday 9 a.m.
  • Saturday 10 p.m. to Sunday 9 a.m.
  • Sunday 10 p.m. to Monday 5:30 a.m.

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 all Patent examiners/POPA bargaining unit employees is Thursday 1:00-2:00 pm Eastern Time.