Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USPTO - I don’t have access to backup care but I can work anytime between 5:30 am and 10:30 pm so I am able o flex my hours around kid stuff - plus at the 15 year mark I have more than enough leave to cover emergencies

I heard a patent examiner's work is very intense and a lot of overtime, is it true?

I have friends that are patent examiners and they basically do all their work at the beginning of the month, meet their quotas and then do whatever they like for the rest of the month. Turn down promotions but keep getting raises. When they do have to work, they make it in at whatever time works for them.

This. If you’re specialized and fast, you can finish all your work early in the quota cycle or at night. I know a PhD at the uspto with 15 years of experience and he has, during his uspto career, owned a small business and been a primary parent (his kid was only in half day preschool and never used aftercare in elementary because he could work around that).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JHUAPL. Not exactly DC though

DH works there and yes - fantastic environment and benefits, although the flexibility does vary a little from group to group, depending on misison

What is this company? Is this a commonly known abbreviation or am I the only one who has to go google?

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab--thanks google!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:JHUAPL. Not exactly DC though

DH works there and yes - fantastic environment and benefits, although the flexibility does vary a little from group to group, depending on misison

What is this company? Is this a commonly known abbreviation or am I the only one who has to go google?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say back up child care is a benefit I want. I want the ability to flex my time and WFH when necessary. Executive level people with un-missable meetings and travel can arrange their own nannies.

All that said, some trade associations are very good.

I agree. My fed job with DOI checks the other boxes. My kid is in elementary school now, and I’d rather be there to take him to swim/soccer/pick up from school than some random “back up child care.”

How is the DOI for telework? Flexible hours?

Federal government

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of backup care, the federal government.

I work for DOJ and have back up care. But long hours and lots of travel.

Always remember this applies to Executive Branch, not Legislative! I learned this the hard way.