Shataku (Company housing)
社宅
しゃたく
Shataku refers to company housing, a form of employee benefit in which Japanese companies provide housing facilities at reduced rents to their employees. After World War II, because of the national shortage of housing, company housing was needed both to attract new employees and to provide a minimum standard of living. In the rapid-growth period of the 1960s, large numbers of dormitories for unmarried workers were constructed throughout the country in order to recruit young employees. For married workers, companies either offered financial support for home and land purchases or provided corporate housing for families.
Various types of company housing are still provided throughout the country. Maintaining housing for employees makes it easier to recruit workers and transfer employees from one part of the country to another. Employees, for their part, are attracted by the low rents. Still, company housing does make it easier for company politics and troubles with co-workers to intrude on home life.
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