SEATTLE - In this economy, you don't hear many stories about companies extending or improving benefits to employees.
It might be what some staffers were thinking at Seattle-based Social Strata on Monday when the boss called all the employees together to make a big announcement.
Sandor Wallace says there was "an odd silence."
His colleague David Dreeze says he saw "eyes light up, and jaws drop" after what CEO Rosemary O'Neil had to tell them.
"We told our employees that we were going to have from now on unlimited paid leave," says O'Neil.
That's not a misprint: Unlimited Paid Leave.
"First, you could hear a pin drop. There was some surprise, they weren't sure we were serious at first," says O'Neill.
She says she was inspired to make the change after reading James Collins' book "Built to Last."
"We thought we want a company of leaders and a culture of discipline," says O'Neill, "When you treat people with respect, which is the essence of the policy, then they rise to the occasion. I really truly believe that."
The company specializes in building social networking sites and forum-based communication for other organizations, and its employees can already come in at different hours or, as Dreeze says, "It's nice not to punch a clock and know what your responsibilities are, come in and get 'em done."
O'Neill believes the policy will be "self-policing." She is not worried about people abusing it, but that if anyone does, they'll "weed themselves out.
That may be good news for anyone looking to work at the company, because right now, O'Neill says she's not hiring.
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