Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity
The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity 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.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Complaint Process
The USPTO Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity administers the EEO complaint process, formal and informal, which may be used by USPTO employees and applicants for employment to raise issues of discrimination on the following bases:
- race
- color
- sex
- religion
- national origin
- age (40 and over)
- disability
- retaliation
Four Federal Anti-discrimination laws are enforced through the EEO complaint process:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended;
- the Equal Pay Act of 1963;
- the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and
- the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended.
The USPTO does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.
If you believe you have been subjected to unlawful discrimination by USPTO, you must contact an EEO Counselor in the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity within 45 days at:
Phone: (571) 272-8292
Fax: (571) 273-8292
Street Address: Madison Building East, 7th Floor, Alexandria, VA
Mailing Address:
Mail Stop EEO
Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
PO Box 1450
Alexandria VA 22313-1450
The Federal EEO process is governed by the regulations, management directives, guidance, and case law of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), as well as applicable Federal law.
