Telework Announcement from USPTO Director David Kappos.

Via an email to USPTO employees earlier today.

Dear Colleagues:

 I’m pleased to announce the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) which covers the implementation of the Telework Enhancement Act Pilot Program (TEAPP) for the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Howard Friedman, President, the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 245; Harold Ross, President, the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 243; Robert Budens, President, the Patent Office Professional Association; and Patricia Richter, USPTO Chief Administrative Officer, signed the MOU on Tuesday, July 5, 2011.

The agreement approves the operating procedures for the pilot program developed by the TEAPP Oversight Committee. These procedures will be put into effect 30 days after the General Services Administration submits the program to the appropriate congressional committees. We look forward to providing you more detailed information on application periods and specifics of the program in the near future.

The pilot program will allow employees teleworking full-time to decide, for their own convenience, to live greater than 50 miles from the USPTO headquarters located in Alexandria, Va., and to change their duty station to an alternate worksite in the city in which they work in exchange for an agreement to waive travel expenses back to the office for a limited number of trips. Participation in this pilot program is voluntary and will be determined by an application process to be explained in subsequent communications.

I appreciate the patience you have demonstrated throughout this process. Although we’re getting close to eliminating the bi-weekly reporting requirement for those who choose to participate in the TEAPP, if you’re currently a hoteling employee living outside of the 50-mile commuting radius, you must continue to travel to the USPTO campus on a bi-weekly basis until the TEAPP becomes effective and your application to participate is approved. I will continue to provide you with project updates as I receive them.

I’d like to express my gratitude to those of you who provided input via surveys and questions to the Telework Oversight Committee mailbox. Your input helped the committee to establish the TEAPP operating procedures. I’d also like to thank the committee members for their diligence and hard work on implementing the telework legislation. I’m pleased that the unions and management worked together to craft a program that will benefit employees and our organization.

Regards,
David Kappos