The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO/Agency) is required to give you the following notice pursuant to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act, effective October 1, 2003), which requires agencies to make employees aware of Federal non-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws.

A. Federal Antidiscrimination Laws

It is illegal to discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, religion, sex (including equal pay), national origin, disability, age (40 and over), and/or in retaliation for having participated in activity protected by the various civil rights statutes. You can access the Federal regulations that cover Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/29cfr1614_03.html.

Aggrieved persons who believe they have been discriminated against on one or more of the bases listed above must consult an EEO Counselor prior to filing a complaint in order to attempt informal resolution of the matter. The aggrieved person must initiate contact with an EEO Counselor within 45 days of the date of the matter alleged to be discriminatory or, in the case of a personnel action, within 45 days of the effective date of the action. You can access information regarding administrative and judicial remedial procedures available to you concerning the complaint process (see Rights and Responsibilities).

If you are a USPTO employee located in Crystal City, you can contact an Agency’s EEO Counselor at the main Office of Civil Rights (OCR):

Phone: 703-305-8292 / TTY: 703-305-8097
Street Address:  Crystal Park One, Suite 608, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA

Mail Address:

Mail Stop EEO
Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
PO Box 1450
Alexandria VA 22313-1450

If you are located at the USPTO's Alexandria Headquarters, you can contact:

Jeanette Devins or Darnella B. Kindred (who alternate months)
Phone: 571-272-2672;
Street Address: 400 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA.

Furthermore, you can access information regarding the agency’s Affirmative Employment Program.

You can contact the EEO Director, the EEO Officer, and the Assistant Director in charge of the Affirmative Employment Program, at OCR’s main office, at the location noted above.

B. Other Prohibited Personnel Practices

It is illegal to subject employees or applicants of employment to prohibited personnel practices. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has jurisdiction to investigate all prohibited personnel practices (including but not limited to those prohibited by the Hatch and the Whistleblower Protection Acts). For extensive information on the rights available to employees who believe they have been subjected to prohibited personnel practices, please access OSC’s website at http://www.osc.gov.

KEY: =online business system =fees =forms=help =laws/regulations =definition (glossary)

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