> they can easily consult on the side, as well, which is totally okay in academia (unlike most employees at companies).
It is very rare to be outright prohibited from consulting on the side as an employee. I currently do exactly that (work for a company that sells consultants and developers to its clients on contract) and we are only prohibited from doing the same on the side if it is a conflict of interest. I've never heard of someone going to their supervisor with a lead and being told they could not pursue it.
Yes, it is rare to be outright prohibited. But it will definitely be looked down upon by managers. It is also culturally uncommon. Very few Google engineers are consulting on the side, for example.
It is extremely common for CS professors to consult. And there are absolutely no conflict of interest restrictions. CS professors will consult in their direct area of research.
It is very rare to be outright prohibited from consulting on the side as an employee. I currently do exactly that (work for a company that sells consultants and developers to its clients on contract) and we are only prohibited from doing the same on the side if it is a conflict of interest. I've never heard of someone going to their supervisor with a lead and being told they could not pursue it.