Google’s infamous “20% time” (where 20% of its employees’ time is spent on personal projects) has inspired Microsoft to do the same. “The Garage” is both a place and a concept initiated by Microsoft to get the creative juices flowing in its employees.

The Garage was built last year in an original Microsoft building, no. 4, where Bill Gates used to have his office, and it even features a working garage door for authenticity. Employees are free to pop in anytime to tinker with their on-the-side projects, using the hardware provided for them by the company.

Charmingly, the Garage even hosts “science fairs” for those with a competitive streak. Like typical school science fairs, employees work on anything that interests them, and present their projects (yes, using tri-fold poster boards) to a panel of judges. And the prize for first place? The chance to set off a baking soda volcanic eruption!

This new approach is an attempt by Microsoft to de-stress the workplace, and provide employees with time and a space where they can get away from the problems dogging them in the office. It also gives Microsoft a bonus: sometimes the wacky ideas people come up with are included in Microsoft’s product offering.

At the moment, one employee is working on a tool, in the Garage, to allow people to pay for things using their bodies. Using a smartphone featuring NFC and a reader, users could process payments via signals sent through the body, without having to take the phone out of their pocket.

“The Garage” initiative is a step outside the box for Microsoft. Same-old same-old simply doesn’t cut it anymore in the fast-paced technology sector. Encouraging and facilitating creativity is becoming a trend in the top technology firms, and if the profit margin and employee-satisfaction levels are any indicators, it seems to pay off quite well.

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