Full benefits for contract workers? One company says yes.

Only 50 employees will benefit from the new policy, but it could signal a sea change in how contractors are treated. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The tech companies in Silicon Valley are known to be cutting-edge and innovative, but one company just raised the bar even further by giving contractors who don’t actually work for the company benefits, including health insurance, time off and transportation.

At SurveyMonkey, the company recognizes that contract workers are more than just filling in to carry out assignments—or provide services, such as catering and janitorial work–that regular employees don’t do. As CNBC reports, SurveyMonkey has responded to concerns from its full-time employees that it hasn’t been doing enough for its contract workers and in January instituted benefits offerings for all contractors working at its San Mateo headquarters.