Some employees' raises will be slightly higher or slightly lower than 9.8 percent. This is absolutely essential for recruitment and retention, Stern said. Patent workers and supervisors, he noted, just have fantastic opportunities in the private sector. In return, patent workers had to agree to switch from the traditional paper-based file system to an electronic version.
Some patent examiners prefer working with paper.
I m sure this is not a universally accepted matter, Stern said. But we are committed to going in that direction. The new pay rates will take effect on Sunday, with the beginning of the next pay period. Last September, members of the Patent Office Professional Association rejected the PTO s offer of a pay raise because of the terms of the agency s offer. The two sides returned to the negotiating table, ironed out their differences and approved a new agreement in January.