[tyingq]

That's not the only two groups in question here.

There are those that spend off-time programming, just not for their employer's tasks.

The quid-pro-quo of employee-employer loyalty is largely gone these days, so it's not unreasonable to only work the hours you're compensated for.

[jdmichal]

Why would loyalty have any impact on gifting your employer free work? You can be loyal without giving away things for free.

[tyingq]

Perhaps we're using the term in two different contexts.

I'm using the term loyalty for lack of a better term. There was a time when employees would often go above and beyond for their employers, because the reverse was also often true. Roughly, the shift away from the "lifetime employment" model.

Things like:

- Somewhere in the 1980's, when layoffs started to happen even in relatively financially healthy companies

- The move from pensions to 401k's

- The shift of a higher percentage of healthcare costs to the employee's portion

- More focus on hiring outsiders into higher level positions, versus training/placing internal candidates

Specifically, I might be incented to occasionally "work for free" if I thought the company would, for example, not lay me off during a particularly rough financial period.

[jdmichal]

Ah, I see. Personally, I think it's a bit healthier regardless to see your employment as a fair exchange of time for money, and not read anything else into it. There's no confusion about who owes what -- it's all spelled out for you.