Which big tech companies truly grant time to work on side projects?

SAP
corminaty

Go to company page SAP

corminaty
Apr 12 6 Comments

Talking about e.g. the „20% Project“ from Google. A dedicated budget of 10-20% per week to spend on pet projects, either personal, for education or product innovation.

Does Google still offer this across the board in 2022? Do others, like Atlassian?

If it‘s not a flat percentage of time, how else does it work in your company?

#google
#atlassian
#3m
#apple
#bbc

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  • Twitter
    KLkJ82

    Go to company page Twitter

    KLkJ82
    It’s a lot smarter to just get your work done quickly, not tell anyone, and then do your side project, especially if you are WFH. Why would a company want you to do your side project on their time?
    Apr 12 0
  • At MS they give a week for a hackathon once a year, which basically translates into implementing some sort of pet project, preferably useful for others and working by the time the hackathon ends.
    Other than that, some orgs have their own rules. In my org we have learning Fridays once a month and it's really up to you to spend it on something else. Many people, myself included, still end up finishing their regular tasks.
    Apr 12 0
  • Meta / Eng
    SEVManager

    Go to company page Meta Eng

     SEVManager
    Google and Meta are the same in this capacity: everybody can spend 20% time on whatever they want so long as they work 120% of what everybody else is

    Really though; it isn’t uncommon to call this 120% time at Google for exactly the season defined above
    Apr 12 0
  • SAP
    Dykh83

    Go to company page SAP

    Dykh83
    I tried in SAP. Never worked out, the project team made sure I could not work on it

    I also tried to do fellowship to work in area of my interest but my manager also put me 2 other projects simultaneously.

    Finally leaving the company
    Apr 12 1
    • SAP
      corminaty

      Go to company page SAP

      corminaty
      OP
      I mean, at SAP, there are plenty of programs.
      But if you want to spend 20% of your time on it, you gotta put in 120% because you’re not getting less actual work.
      I assume it’s the same in all big tech companies but would like to get 1st hand insights.
      Apr 12
  • 3M / IT
    YqI27

    Go to company page 3M IT

     YqI27
    At 3M the communicated dedication is 15%. Of course that can mean spending 100% of your time working within your role and 15% additional on an innovation opportunity or 85/15. Some managers are not as “accepting” as others about utilization of 15% time.
    Apr 20 0