Semco
At 21，Ricardo Semler became boss of his father'S business in Brazil，Semco，which sold parts for ships.Semler Junior worked like a madman，from 7：30 am，until midnight every day.One afternoon，while touring a factory in NewYork，he collapsed.The doctorwho treated him said，"There's nothing wrong withyou.But if you continue like this.you'll find a new home in our hospital."Semlergot the message.He changed the way he worked.In fact，he changed the ways his employeesworked too.
He let his workerstake more responsibility so that they would be the ones worrying when thingswent wrong.He allowed them to set their own salaries，and he cut all the jobs he thought were unnecessary，like receptionists and secretaries.__________(46)."Everyone at Semco，even top managers，meets guests in reception，does thephotocopying，sends faxes，typesletters and dials the phone."
He completelyreorganized the office：instead of walls，they have plants at Semco，SO bosses can'tshut themselves away from everyone else.__________(47).As for uniforms，some people wear suits andothers wear T-shirts.
Semler says，"We have a sales manager named Rubin Agater who sits therereading the newspaper hour after hour.He doesn't evenpretend to be busy.But when a Semco pump on the otherside of the world fails，millions of gallons of oil areabout to spill into the sea.Rubin springs into action._________(48).That'S when he earns hissalary.No one cares if he doesn't look busy the rest ofthe time."
Semco has flexibleworking hours：the employees decide when they need toarrive at work.The employees also evaluate their bossestwice a year.________(49).
It sounds perfect，but does it work? The answer is in the numbers：in the last six years，Semco'S revenues havegone from$35 million to$212 million.The company hasgrown from eight hundred employees to 3，000.Why?
Semler says it'sbecause of"peer pressure".Peer pressure makesemployees work hard for everyone else._________(50).In other words，Ricardo Semler treats hisworkers like aduhs and expects them to act like adults.Andthey do.
