Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (OCAO) is responsible for the overall administrative activities and functions of the USPTO. The OCAO consists of the Office of Human Resources, the Office of Civil Rights, the Office of Corporate Services and Telework Coordination.
Office of Civil Rights
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) provides leadership, direction, and guidance in carrying out its equal opportunity and civil rights responsibilities. The USPTO promotes equal opportunity by a continuing affirmative program that identifies and eliminates discriminatory practices and policies. Its mission includes:
- ensuring equal employment opportunity and affirmative employment for its employees and job applicants; and
- ensuring equal opportunity and accessibility for users of programs and services operated or funded by the USPTO.
In support of its mission, the USPTO manages reasonable accommodation requests, discrimination complaint processing, and special emphasis programs. Its complaint program provides for the prompt, fair, and impartial processing of complaints from USPTO employees and applicants for employment involving issues of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, and/or retaliation for engaging in protected activity.
See also:
- Reasonable Accommodations
- Affirmative Employment Programs
- Federal Non-Discrimination Laws
- Office of Special Counsel
- No FEAR Act
- USPTO No FEAR Act Report
- U.S. Department of Commerce No FEAR Act Report
Office of Corporate Services
The Office of Corporate Services plans and administers a variety of administrative support programs, including real property matters (e.g., space management, lease management, and facilities engineering); mail service; voice communications; occupational health and safety; security; forms and supply management; photocopy management; messenger services; vehicle management; energy management; personal property management; and repository management of all patented and abandoned files and registered and abandoned trademark files.
Office of Human Resources
The Office of Human Resources (OHR) provides the leadership, policies, programs, services and systems necessary to meet the human resources requirements of the United States Patent and Trademark Office workforce. This includes designing innovative strategies for and implementing a broad range of initiatives relating to human capital planning; recruitment and employment; administration of pay, bonuses and incentives; administration of leave and hours of work; administration of payroll support and time-and-attendance controls; employee recognition and performance management; employee relations, benefits and work life issues; labor management relations; workers' compensation; and other programs that promote effective Human Resources management.
Prospective USPTO employees, please see our Careers page for additional information.
