That's some job perk!

[HotelMinion]

So I was browsing thru my local job listings, like I do practically every day, and I saw one in my field (tourism and hospitality). The job listing was professionally well written, in perfect English, and listed precisely what would be expected and the requirements. Then it listed all the job perks and benefits: 401K plan, health and dental insurance, a free house, and wait, wha?

Yes! They said a free house. One bedroom, one bath on the river. I was stunned, since over the thousand of job listings that I have read over the years, not one has listed a free house! Or course, I knew then that it was a fake ad, or a scam, since it was too good to be true.

But

It got me wondering: is that even possible? To have a free house as a job perk? Is it even legal? Do people somewhere actually get a place to live by THEMSELVES at hiring? Has anyone ever heard such of such a thing?

[Marmalady]

Yes, it's still quite a common thing over here in the UK if the job is one that requires someone to be either on site or very near - for instance, it wasn't that long ago that I saw a vacancy ad for a school caretaker, and there is a cottage that goes with the job. It's called 'tied' accommodation - the place is yours for as long as you do the job.

((When I was first married, my then husband worked on a farm and we lived in a tied cottage on the farmers land for about a year while we saved up the deposit for our own place))

[EricKei]

Makes sense to me. It's probably one in a cluster of houses where ou are expected to be some sort of support personnel -- I would expect that you'd need to be gone within a month, tops, once you move on to another job, however. If the job is up your alley, consider researching the company to see if the offer is legit.

[Kit-Ginevra]

The downside is that when you lose your job,you lose the house too.With tied cottages,families may have lived there for years and then landlord decides that is no longer a job,and out you go.

I'm more worried about the 'bath on the river'...Wouldn't that be a) rather cold b)an invitation for the neighbours to come watch

[mjr]

Heh...a job "perk" (if you want to call it that) I ended up with once was a girlfriend...

It's actually quite an amusing story. We actually went to High School together. Our paths rarely crossed. She was a "band geek" who was also on the drill team (I think), I was a football player (American, for our friends across the pond). Mostly, though, I stood on the sidelines.

Well, fast forward a couple years after high school, and she gets a job at the fast food place where I was working at the time.

I worked the evening/night shift (we closed at midnight). She started hanging around, and that evolved into a relationship. We kept it quiet for the most part.

It lasted about a year and a half. Ended much more quickly than it started.

But it was good, because it was one step on the way to meeting my current wife.

[csquared]

As other pointed out, it is not unusual to offer housing, particularly if they want on on site employee. Parrothead had that when she worked for the self store company.

You need to find out what kind of strings are attached to it. Sometimes that translates into a 24 hour job.

[notalwaysright]

I've heard of it in Alaska. My neighbor growing up would go to work somewhere up there seasonally and housing was always included. I think it's common in Japan to have a housing allowance, especially in big cities. Can't say I've heard of it around here.

[Food Lady]

But it was good, because it was one step on the way to meeting my current wife.

Your current wife? You planning on getting a new one in future?

[Kit-Ginevra]

We've got you a room---->this way to the CS Flirtasuite....

[mjr]

Your current wife? You planning on getting a new one in future?

Nah...I should have just said "my wife"...

Almost 13 years (and counting)!!

[HotelMinion]

Makes sense to me. It's probably one in a cluster of houses where ou are expected to be some sort of support personnel -- I would expect that you'd need to be gone within a month, tops, once you move on to another job, however. If the job is up your alley, consider researching the company to see if the offer is legit.

Well, the ad didn't list the company's name...so...that's a bit suspicious, izznt? >.>

Nah...I should have just said "my wife"...

Almost 13 years (and counting)!!

Gratz! I'm still looking for Mr. Right at 30..I'm very picky :P

[EricKei]

Well, the ad didn't list the company's name...so...that's a bit suspicious, izznt? >.>

Juuuust a bit.

Your current wife?

Heh. First wives don't like to hear themselves referred to as such ...or so I hear.

[Kit-Ginevra]

Well, the ad didn't list the company's name...so...that's a bit suspicious, izznt? >.>



Gratz! I'm still looking for Mr. Right at 30..I'm very picky :P

Oh... you're 30...for some reason I had you as being more like... 50s

[mhkohne]

But it was good, because it was one step on the way to meeting my current wife.

Not your voltage wife?

[dalesys]

Not your voltage wife?

Ohm, ohm, on the range.