Ethically, it's a bit dicey. I wouldn't feel great about working for an employer and deliberately slacking off or working on personal stuff most of the time. Bu

Ethically, it's a bit dicey. I wouldn't feel great about working for an employer and deliberately slacking off or working on personal stuff most of the time. But then many employers are full of practices that are just as dicey on the ethical scale, if not more. I lean towards, if you're in a situation where you have to do something ethically dubious to survive, then go ahead, as long as you're spending some effort on getting out of the situation. If you're making a legitimate effort to get out of the situation rather than wallowing in it, then you're clean enough in my book. Do double-check your IP though. Depending on your country/state and any contracts you may have signed, your employer may have a legal right to things you have worked on. If the situation is at all unclear, it's worth a consultation with an appropriate lawyer to review your situation and be aware of what could happen if you ever try to take investment or get acquired.