No employer I have ever worked for would even consider modifying this language in their agreement. They are going to have a standard boilerplate and if you try to negotiate or modify it they will tell you “sign it unmodified or GTFO.” Ask me how I know :-)

I got my last employer to agree to change the IP terms. It was a typo in their document nobody caught, that asserted ownership on everything. They were only too happy to fix it so it only applied to work done for them. I did have an industry specific non-compete as well, but it's a fairly narrow segment, so I had no problem signing.

My current employment agreement specifically states I can run whatever enterprise I want outside of work so long as it doesn't interfere with my duties (and presumably their business).

My last two companies have modified their language.

Yeah, I request changes from both clients and W2 jobs and get most of what I want as well.

I can confirm that. Two of the top 5 US tech companies told me to sign it as-is or GTFO.

Name and shame :)

Counter anecdata: Many employers are happily willing to provide such carve-outs for ownership of side projects done at home on the employee’s own time and equipment.

This is interesting. Has this been your personal experience? If so, to what the extent?

At my first ever job, where I was among the first developers after the founders, they got such standard boilerplate template.

I asked them to remove that line and some others, and they did without discussion or trying to pressure me into signing.

They didn't actually notice the line being there when they downloaded it from the internet and it was consequently removed for future contracts.

I know people who have had this part of their agreement removed

I also got the “sign it unmodified or GTFO.”

This is not my experience, including early in my career when I worked for FedEx.

My ex-boss had an offer rescinded when he declared his personal IP on the form provided by the company. He had told interviewers about his significant IP/projects. Interviewers thought that was no problem.

On the first day of his job, he filled out a form declaring his current IP. Some HR/lawyer reviewed it and a week later he was let go. No real reason was given. But he spent his first week answering questions related to his projects, so it is pretty obvious they were worried about it.

Sure you will be get hired while building a company.

I've hired 100+ engineers in my career. The ones with side projects are the best engineers. That said, sure I've had to fire some who don't perform.

Pretty common question to ask from hiring managers. It shows passion. Passion is a way better predictor of your work quality and commitment than asking ICPC whiteboard questions.

Side projects prove the passion, I certainly agree. Only, I can't get my head around if employee decides to start dreaming his/her side project taking over the current job. If odds are close and side project has good traction, maybe it's not ethical to work in fulltime before understanding it either.

It's not ethical to take a job you think you might leave at some point in the future? lol

Isn't fulltime an accepted life-style? I see lot of people didn't think far enough but loved their job. Indeed, they seem much happier than lost people in startups. If I would hire someone, I would like to work with that type of person. They can change their mind later, no problem.