Lisa Rein publishes email of Michelle Lee to USPTO employees: " time and attendance abuse is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated"

Lisa Rein of the Washington Post published an email of Director Michelle Lee to all USPTO employees which related to the August 19 report of the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) which detailed significant time and attendance abuse of a USPTO employee.

The text of the August 25 email included:


So, along with the agency’s entire Executive Committee, it is important to reiterate that time and attendance abuse is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. [sic]

We are inspired by so many of our hardworking and dedicated employees. And importantly, I know that together we will remain vigilant in our focus on fulfilling the vital mission of our agency in the service of the American public.



Link to Rein article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/08/26/patent-office-chief-to-employees-time-and-attendance-abuse-is-absolutely-unacceptable/

Rein noted that the supervisor of the examiner in question worked from homw (telecommuted), so this is the inverse of the previously alleged issue of abuse by telecommuting examiners.

Rein: An examiner with a history of poor performance who was never disciplined racked up more than 18 weeks of pay last year for not working. But his manager, who worked from home, only noticed when he received an anonymous letter calling out the employee.