Working for the USPTO

[petethebody]

Anyone have any idea when the PTO might reconsider hiring new people?

[Examinerguy]

My guess is that they will need a capital infusion from the government for hiring to resume in 2010. I haven't done research on the 200+ years the office has been around, but I think congress rarely (if ever) gives money (tax payer money) to the PTO. So good luck and prey for 2011. 

[petethebody]

What about natural attrition?  If an examiner leaves, will the PTO open that spot up and interview outside candidates, or will that spot be terminated and the work be redistributed to other examiners in the art group?

[Examinerguy]

What about natural attrition?  If an examiner leaves, will the PTO open that spot up and interview outside candidates, or will that spot be terminated and the work be redistributed to other examiners in the art group?

As someone has posted on this board, they may be re-hiring examiners (ones who previously left) to replace the ones leaving. However, there has been no news of hiring new examiners.

[mk1023]

Anybody heard anything new about the recruitment bonuses? I had pretty much written them off, but I haven't heard a peep and it's six weeks into FY2010. I know management has to give written notice, so I would have expected to see some complaining by now given that by my count there are three classes that have had anniversaries so far this FY:
October 27th 2008
November 13th 2006
November 13th 2007

[Examinerguy]

Anybody heard anything new about the recruitment bonuses? I had pretty much written them off, but I haven't heard a peep and it's six weeks into FY2010. I know management has to give written notice, so I would have expected to see some complaining by now given that by my count there are three classes that have had anniversaries so far this FY:
October 27th 2008
November 13th 2006
November 13th 2007

Doesn't matter..bonuses are given in August and February. So the Oct. 27th and nov. 13th classes will get the bonus in feb. At least that is what was on the contract that I saw. Maybe contracts were written differently for different classes.

[lhfan]

My SPE has said that they would still be giving out the bonuses.

[Jim_W]

Stupid question:
I heard they had canceled all the training academies going forward, which would entirely prevent new hires from joining the PTO. Is this actually true?

[astrologers]

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[astrologers]

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[xephay]

Anyone have any idea when the PTO might reconsider hiring new people?

maybe, if proposal to add 15% surcharge on all fees for 2 years goes through--at least to make up for the 200MM in the red.  timing depends on progress of the pending controversial patent reform legislation.

[dablueman]

Stupid question:
I heard they had canceled all the training academies going forward, which would entirely prevent new hires from joining the PTO. Is this actually true?

Sort of. Last academy class to start was the July class. There has been at least one new hire since then (not someone coming back to the PTO, but a completely new person), and I heard that for them the PTO went back to the 2 week intensive training academy and then sent them to the TC.

The economic of having the academy mean that you either have a lot of new hires, or you have none.

[mk1023]

Anybody heard anything new about the recruitment bonuses? I had pretty much written them off, but I haven't heard a peep and it's six weeks into FY2010. I know management has to give written notice, so I would have expected to see some complaining by now given that by my count there are three classes that have had anniversaries so far this FY:
October 27th 2008
November 13th 2006
November 13th 2007

Doesn't matter..bonuses are given in August and February. So the Oct. 27th and nov. 13th classes will get the bonus in feb. At least that is what was on the contract that I saw. Maybe contracts were written differently for different classes.

Yes disbursements are different for different classes. I don't know about how disbursements work for the classes that get split payments are, but at least for some of the earlier classes bonus payments are a single payment received close to the start date anniversary. The relevant class here would seem to be the first November class.

[Dinky]

Just got this from manager today

"PTO started to hire again - currently, only former patent examiners, PTO retirees, and lawyers with IP field experience are being considered"

Just thought I would share with the class 

[Examinerguy]

Just got this from manager today

"PTO started to hire again - currently, only former patent examiners, PTO retirees, and lawyers with IP field experience are being considered"

Just thought I would share with the class 

So odd...management must know something that we don't. Last time I heard, the 200 million shortfall hasn't been made up yet. Maybe congress promised Kappos something that isn't public yet.