I'm not talking about working overtime for a project, but R&D, or test bed applications that benefit the company. These would become teaching tools, and eventually sales tools. I know it sounds crazy to even ask, but I'm seeing a trend in this industry with regard to rapidly changing technology, and a problem with getting programmers to bring the after hours knowledge gained in house. You would think it would spill over naturally, but I find most leads holding back because the work would then be "managed" by the company, and now the property of the company. Are there solid programs or initiatives that stimulate a back-and-forth, where you can actually bring something to the table and be rewarded for it?

EDIT

Can anyone provide additional feedback on this:

Are there solid programs or initiatives that stimulate a back-and-forth, where you can actually bring something to the table and be rewarded for it?

There appears to be a miscommunication here, where some users are under the impression I'm trying to figure out how to get free work out of colleagues. Just the opposite is true. I want to know if there are programs that exist, or ideas that you have that would motivate you, which doesn't necessarily have to be money.


  and a problem with getting programmers to bring the after hours
  knowledge gained in house.


The problem is that you're not paying them to do that.


  You would think it would spill over naturally,


No I wouldn't, free time is free time. If somebody chooses to spend their free time studying instead of going kite surfing or whatever, then of course they should be the ones to benefit from what they did during their free time. Why should you? What have you contributed to that time and effort that they put in?


  but I find most leads holding back because the work would then be "managed" by the company, and now the property of the company.


Yup

Here's the thing, if you find value in the things that programmers do while not working for you, then why don't you have them working on those things during work hours.

Google understands this and that's why they have 20% time. But it's too easy to mess this up by trying to keep control over what employees work on during this time. A smart developer knows many things you could be doing to improve your business if only they are given a chance. Sure you now have one day a week less but after some time you will find that the work on the fifth day makes the work on the next four days a lot more productive and effective. It also makes smart devs love working for you as they no longer have to deal with bad decisions that affect their every day work, they can actually do something to positively change the situation.

If you want benefit from free time the only way you will get it is if the devs really, really like you and the company they work for.
