Mitsui & Co., one of Japan's largest companies, is revising the common conception of a work-life balance by reintroducing its old tradition of supplying dorms for unmarried employees. In Tokyo, the company's six dorms for men and two for women cost about $185 a month and provide private bedrooms but a shared cafeteria and bathhouse.

According to The Wall Street Journal [1], employee dorms were originally introduced in the 1950s and 60s to help establish a company culture of family. One 24-year old Mitsui employee said, "The dorm is a very successful system where you can build relationships with colleagues who we don't have access to otherwise."

The dorms are meant to reinforce a focus on the team over the individual by allowing workers to make friends and learn about each other outside the office. Would you be receptive to living in a dorm with co-workers during the first several years of your working life? Do you think this idea would ever fly in the US?

Source [2]