A self-diagnosed workaholic, Jeanette Russell knows that a real vacation requires her to completely unplug by deleting mobile e-mail applications and letting her work laptop battery die in a corner. It's also company policy.

"When we say 'work-life balance,' this is our proof that we mean it," said Russell, director of finance and operations at Denver-based FullContact, a software company that helps businesses organize and sync contact information across devices.

Vacation is serious business at the four-year-old firm. Each employee is granted a yearly $7,500 bonus to use for time off, with a mandate to stay completely out of touch while away. The extra pay is forfeited if that rule is broken. Co-workers pick up the slack for the vacationers and abide by detailed plans outlining who will fill holes during an absence.

While the start-up's policy seems like a worker's pipe dream, it hints at the kind of perks needed to attract and keep staff in a job market that's increasingly tilting in the employee's favor. It's also a win for companies because it may cost a little less than handing out raises, and the added flexibility helps attract sought-after employees.