The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Reports Telecommuting Success

Kudos to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for their enlightened policy.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is criticized for plenty of things, but failure to institute telecommuting isn’t one of them.

Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director Margaret J.A. Peterlin testified Tuesday before the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for a hearing on the issue of employees who work from home.

Because of its policies, the USPTO is considered a leader among federal agencies for allowing its workings mobility.

For example, by the end of fiscal year 2007, 3,609 USPTO employees participated in some form of telework. That’s up about 59% from 2006 and represents 40.7% slice of the office’s total workforce.

The patent office boasts saving more than 613,000 gallons of gas, preventing 9,600 tons of emissions, and saving more than $1.8 million annually in fuel costs by allowing employees to work outside the office.

Peterlin told the House Committee that will help the agency hire the best talent, from outside the Mid-Atlantic region, retain employees, and minimize real estate costs associated with workforce expansion.

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