In a way I am lucky as in the last 23 years I always worked as a self-employed service provide, never as an employee. So it was easier to negotiate an contract that separated the time I work for the client from the rest of my time. This made it easy to work on other things, including open source projects albeit unpaid.

At most of my clients the employees were not contributing to open source projects, but I never really asked if it is lack of interest or if the corporation prohibits them from working on OS projects?

It's time to ask it.

• Does your employer allow you to work on open source projects in your free time?
• Does you employer allow you to do so during company time?
• What are the rules you have to follow?
• If it is ok, please also share, which company?