Time and Attendance Abuse at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

PURPOSE:

• To provide an opportunity for members to understand the steps the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has taken and still need to take to prevent time and attendance abuse.

BACKGROUND:

• In August 2015, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) was alerted to potential time and attendance abuse where a USPTO examiner committed at least 730 hours of time and attendance abuse, resulting in payment of $25,000 for hours not worked.
• OIG conducted an agency-wide investigation and released its findings in an August 2016 report identifying over 288,000 unsupported hours equating to more than $18.3 million in potential waste.
• OIG found USPTO did not fully address some recommendations issued in the 2015 report.