Community Spotlight - Danette Campbell, Senior Advisor, Telework, United States Patent and Trademark Office
We’ve heard the news. In 2006, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced it would add approximately 1,200 new patent examiners each year through 2013. Danette Campbell, Senior Advisor for Telework at the USPTO, has the job of helping employees access their desktops without having to travel to the Alexandria campus. It’s not magic, it’s telework.
Donna Norfleet, Alexandria’s Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, recently worked with Ms. Campbell to nominate USPTO for the Commuter Connections Employer Recognition Award. Administered by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, this regional award recognizes employers for transportation programs that greatly reduce drive-alone commuting, which improve the efficiency of our transportation system, reduce air pollutants, and decrease parking demand.
How long have you been doing this type of work?
Where: 600 Dulany Street in Alexandria Current number of staff: Number of staff teleworking four days per week: Number of staff using transit and vanpools: Approximate number of monthly auto commute trips not taken as a result of USPTO telework and subsidy program: |
I left the southern Maryland telework center project in 2001 to work for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). I worked for COG as the Telework Resource Center Manager until 2005, which is when I came to the USPTO.
What are telework and hoteling as they relate to USPTO?
At the USPTO, telework or telecommuting is an alternative work arrangement for employees to conduct all or some of their work away from the primary workplace. Hoteling is an arrangement in which employees are not assigned permanent space in a central office, but rather share offices and conference space as necessary when onsite. Such space is assigned by electronic reservation, much like a hotel.
What other programs does USPTO offer staff that encourages use of public transportation, rideshare, bicycling, and walking?
We offer a complete menu of transportation programs and services. Employees may participate in the Transit Subsidy Program which provides up to $115 per month to use towards transit and vanpool costs. We currently have over 3,000 staff taking advantage of this program. We also provide preferential parking for vanpools; secured bicycle parking; shower facilities to members of the USPTO fitness facility; flextime; and compressed work weeks.
There are two shuttle services provided to USPTO employees. In March 2005, the City of Alexandria revised its DASH bus schedule for buses serving the USPTO Alexandria campus and the surrounding Carlyle community. The revised schedule includes times throughout the day going to and from the Eisenhower Avenue and King Street Metrorail stations. All USPTO employees and contractors who display a USPTO-issued identification badge upon boarding the bus are entitled to ride for free to and from the Metro stations. There are also two shuttle buses that serve the USPTO South Tower building in Crystal City, Virginia. The shuttle buses run at regularly scheduled intervals between the Crystal City building and the Alexandria campus for easy transit between the two locations.
When did USPTO begin the telework program?
In 1997, the Trademark Work at Home (TWAH) program started with 18 examining attorneys working from home three days per week. Trademarks has expanded this program and now has over 85 percent of examining attorneys working from home four days per week. The Patents Hoteling Program (PHP) was initially deployed in 2006 and now has more than 1,000 patent examiners working from home 4 days per week. The Patents organization also incorporates a one-day-per-week telework program for patent managers and patent examiners.
How many employees are participating in the USPTO telework programs?
Combined, the trademark and patent programs have 1,323 employees working from home four days per week. There are also 2,265 employees who telework from one to three days per week.
How has USPTO dealt with security of the information to which teleworkers must have access?
The online environment we use is very secure. Our IT department works diligently to ensure that information is properly encrypted. We extensively train staff on processes and procedures of proper data handling, integration, and storage.
What is the goal for having more teleworkers in the future?
At the rate we’re going, we expect to have 2,000 more patent examiners working from home four days per week by 2011. We also intend to maintain the 85 percent rate of trademark examining attorneys teleworking four days per week.
What have been some of the benefits to the organization?
By combining telework and hoteling, USPTO has documented numerous space and cost savings. The program will eliminate the need to secure additional parking and office facilities as we increase our workforce. It has also greatly enhanced the agency’s ability to compete with the private sector to recruit and retain talented employees. Most importantly, employees value the program because it allows them to have control of their personal time while maximizing productivity.
On that note, what are employees saying about the program?
In 2006, a survey of trademark teleworkers was conducted. Ninety-nine percent of respondents report increased job satisfaction as a direct result of telework participation and 90 percent indicated the program has influenced them to stay at the USPTO. Employees also appreciate the stress reduction and financial savings, citing reduced fuel, meal, and clothing expenses.
I understand the USPTO telework program is a prototype for other government agencies. What agencies have turned to you for advice?
We have a great deal of expertise in the design, development and implementation of telework initiatives at USPTO. When we meet with outside agencies, I include representatives from Patents, Trademarks, and IT. During my tenure at USPTO, we have met with:
- Center for Advanced Study and Research in Intellectual Property Studies (CASPIR)
- Congressional Aides
- Department of the Interior – Fish & Wildlife Service
- Department of Transportation
- Federal Reserve, GSA, IRS
- Library of Congress
- Treasury Inspector General Tax Administration
- Department of Homeland Security
- The European Patent Organization
In addition to hosting agencies here on the Alexandria campus, I have had the honor of speaking to the Federal Real Property Advisory Group, the International Telework Advisory Council, and the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization Committee on Government Reform, United States House of Representatives, in a hearing titled “Telecommuting: A 21st Century Solution to Traffic Jams and Terrorism” in July 2006.
What is management saying about the program?
At the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, managers and supervisors are critical to the success of the work-at-home programs. They help define the programs and ultimately set the parameters of the remote working arrangements for employees. Therefore, training for managers is vital to ensuring that they are comfortable and adept at managing their off-site workers.
When supervisors understand the corporate benefits of telework, they are able to identify those work tasks that are lent to telework. Training assists managers in utilizing the communication tools they need to successfully supervise employees who are teleworking.
Thank you to Ms. Campbell and USPTO staff for their commitment and continuing efforts to improve our transportation system and environment. We wish them the best of luck on winning the highly deserved Commuter Connections Employer Recognition Award!
Have your moment in the Community Spotlight! If you are part of a community or business in Alexandria that takes an innovative approach to promoting non-drive-alone travel and/or telework, contact Donna Norfleet to share your story. Call 703-519-3400 ext. 179 or e-mail donna.norfleet@alexandriava.gov.
