Companies need to realize that devs hacking on side ideas or new technologies can end up helping them in the long run. Makes for happier devs, brings new ideas

Companies need to realize that devs hacking on side ideas or new technologies can end up helping them in the long run. Makes for happier devs, brings new ideas to the table, and creates a tighter culture. This is one of those things that I think is only true at small companies. Places like Google have tried and largely failed at this. I wouldn't be surprised if Page completely ends 20% time since pretty much everyone I know personally at Google says that it became a way to do spin your wheels, but provide no value. At a small company, you're still figuring out how to make money. It's just as likely that your next revenue stream will come from out of the blue. With that said, as an employee, I'd never give my employer any of my side project's IP. They can license it or buy it, but it's mine.