The EPO has published its Social Report 2016, which provides a comprehensive overview of staff and working conditions at the Office. The 2016 report shows that the EPO remains an attractive employer: 226 new employees were recruited externally, 35% more than last year. 82% of these recruits were patent examiners, bringing the number of examiners to 4 300, with the staff total remaining at 6 800.
The Office also proved a flexible workplace in 2016: Some 17% more employees – now one fifth of all staff – made use of the possibility to work partly from home, and 14% of all staff opted to work part-time. The average number of sick leave days per staff member decreased further, from ten days in 2015 to nine.

Source: SIPO