How the '20% time' rule led to Google's most innovative products

Give employees a little freedom, and watch the creativity blossom.
 By 
Petrana Radulovic
 on 
How the '20% time' rule led to Google's most innovative products
Watch Next

Did you know that some of the most iconic Google products start out as side products?

On this debut episode of "Masters of Scale," former Google CEO Eric Schmidt discusses the company's 20 percent time rule -- a policy that allows employees to work on whatever they want for 20 percent of their time on the job. Not only does this policy inspire innovative projects, it also serves as a checks and balance system between unreasonable managers and reasonable employees.

"[It] empowers the employee with both dignity, but also some choices," says Schmidt.

Topics Google

Mashable Image
Petrana Radulovic

Petrana Radulovic was a web culture fellow here at Mashable. She enjoys exploring the growing intersection of story-telling and digital spaces, hanging out in book shops and art museums, and the tasteful meme. Follow her on Twitter at @pet_rana for #relatable content.


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.

A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.



Is This The End of Hollywood's ‘Bad Moms’?
Recent representations of motherhood on film: (from left) Amy Adams in 'Nightbitch', Jennifer Lawrence in 'Die My Love', and Rose Byrne in 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!