Another Reason To Telecommute: Government Patent Examiners Work More, Cost Less

After instituting a “hoteling” option in 2006, defined as telecommuting at least four days out of the week, with the option to access shared office space if necessary, the agency has found that workers participating in the program work just a bit more and cost a lot less.

Hoteling patent examiners worked an average of 66 hours more per year (or an hour and fifteen minutes extra a week) and processed 4% more patent applications, a government report found, for a $1,000-per-year revenue boost.