Trump Return-to-Office Order Faces Big Exemption at Patent Office

The US Patent and Trademark Office told employees Friday the agency will fully comply with President Donald Trump’s return-to-office order, but the directive won’t override collective bargaining agreements covering most of its employees.

“The USPTO no longer permits regular and recurring telework. Employees should work full time at their respective worksites/duty stations,” the agency told its employees on Jan. 24 in a memo circulated by patent examiners on social media and authenticated by the PTO.

But the directive includes a sweeping exemption for employees covered by the agency’s latest CBA. Approximately 9,000 of the PTO’s 13,000 employees belong to the ...