Place I used to work years ago would pay for staff to do an extra-curricular course as part of employment, something away from the day to day work but could bring benefits/personal growth and all that. I did the basic referee course in 2012 over a few weekends. Never did any games afterwards (think you had to do six in a 12 month period to go from level 9 to level 7) but really enjoyed the course.
Went to watch a lad ref a few games who did the course with me and that was enough to put me off. He did a few games in Charlton/Woolwich and there were some right horrible bastards in those games on at him from the first minute. Running the line looked alright as it was just flagging for offsides but you couldn't pay me to be a ref.