Affirmative Employment Programs

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) strives to ensure that its workforce is diverse, inclusive, and representative of the populations it serves. The USPTO is an equal opportunity employer, meaning it provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Additionally, the USPTO provides equal pay for equivalent work regardless of gender.

Diversity and inclusion mission statement

The USPTO will recruit, retain, develop, and advance a diverse, high-performing workforce that draws from all segments of society and values fairness, diversity, and inclusion. Further, the agency strives to be the world’s premier intellectual property organization and a model employer by leveraging diversity and fostering inclusion to deliver the best public service.

USPTO Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity

The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity (OEEOD) manages programs and initiatives that promote equal opportunity and that identify and eliminate discriminatory practices and policies by:

  • Providing continuous training to managers and executives;
  • Monitoring adherence to laws, regulations and procedures, and preparing statistics on agency performance in these areas;
  • Analyzing workforce demographic data to determine areas in need of improvement and developing and/or enhancing policies, programs and initiatives to address challenges;
  • Implementing and managing Special Emphasis Programs (SEPs) and observances;
  • Conducting recruitment and outreach activities, particularly to communities that are underrepresented in the Agency and the federal government’s workforce;
  • Partnering with employee-led Affinity Groups and allies;
  • Defining Diversity and Inclusion and promoting D&I concepts through initiatives such as the Diversity Download podcast; and
  • Promoting cultural learning and understanding through annual events such as Community Day, the International Food Sample Festival, Lunar New Year, Dwali, and more.

Compliance with federal legislation and presidential executive orders

In compliance with federal laws and Presidential Executive Orders, the USPTO's EEO director and diversity program manager oversees the following SEPs to ensure equal employment opportunity in the areas of hiring, retention, and career development:

Moreover, implementation of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) principles and practices will help to ensure a more substantive and robust response to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Equal

See Also