Employees pay for hotel stays on company retreat?

EgoCommaAlter · February 2014

Our employer recently announced an upcoming company retreat at a resort about 1/2 hour from our office (1.5 hours from my home, though in the same town where about 1/3 of my colleagues live). it's a 2-day deal, with an 8AM "team breakfast" kicking off the second day.

They told us they got "group discount rates" for those of us who "chose to stay overnight". It's been admitted by senior management that I'm underpaid, which means my budget is tight. However, I don't know that, with my medical issues, I can leave my house at 6AM, wait till 8 to eat breakfast, and be fine. I was considering staying overnight, but the base rate for the rooms appears to be between $300-500. I cannot swing that without significant financial hardship to my family.

Would it be out of line for me to ask my employer to pick up the tab for my hotel room? While I'm the one who "chose" (very limited local market) to take a job so far from my home, I feel like they're the ones requiring this retreat, I don't see the company hurting for money, and maybe they should pick up the tab. I do know that because I'm new in town and new to the industry, there are several of my coworkers who have communicated that they really resent that I was even hired in the first place. Luckily, I have some transferrable skills that are rare in this market, and that the company needs.

Would you talk to your boss or not?

FemShep · February 2014

There's no harm in asking, but I wouldn't expect them to agree. If they pay for your room, they should pay for everyone's room. Bring snacks that are easily portable to eat in the car on your drive to the meeting.

tbmadeamistake · February 2014

We do an annual kickoff at a local hotel every year. While obviously the company picks up the tab for the employees who have tobfly in, they also have all local employees spend a night and pick up the tab for all of us as well. I think its perfectly reasonable to expect your company to pay.

Avion22 · February 2014

I would probably just drive and bring snacks to eat. I doubt they'll pay for you to stay in the hotel.

Are there any other hotels that are closer that cost less? Like a Motel 6 a few minutes down the road that you could stay at instead?

VOR · February 2014

Yeah- I'd look into a cheaper hotel!

Puppies+Rainbows+Unicorns · February 2014

If I were new and still trying to fit in I would not ask. Who wouldn't want to have the company pay for their room? Having your room paid for sounds like a great way to build up resentments (assistants who pay the bills tend to gossip).

thedash · February 2014

I wouldn't ask but I can see why you are irritated. Eat at home or in the car on the way there. Or look into a cheaper hotel that will reduce your commute to the resort. Sounds like there is already some drama so I would not stir up any more right now.

bcnoelle · February 2014

Another option might be to see if any colleagues want to split the cost and share a hotel room...

groovygrl · February 2014

I would look for a cheaper hotel or just skip the hotel, personally. While I get your food related concerns, no one is saying you can't eat at home or in the car before the 8am company breakfast meeting so I don't really think that justifies asking your company to make an exception to pay for your room and not others. Since there are already hard feelings, I personally wouldn't make my appearance of being different or 'special' even more pronounced.
GL.

AJC&Maggie · February 2014

My job sets aside $1,000/year per employee for stuff like this

jf198400 · February 2014

It's only 30mins from your office, I would not expect company to pay for a hotel. I could see them offering mileage for the increased commute, but that's it. I would just eat on the way there and catch the end of the breakfast.

Iblamethebeer · February 2014

groovygrl said:

I would look for a cheaper hotel or just skip the hotel, personally. While I get your food related concerns, no one is saying you can't eat at home or in the car before the 8am company breakfast meeting so I don't really think that justifies asking your company to make an exception to pay for your room and not others. Since there are already hard feelings, I personally wouldn't make my appearance of being different or 'special' even more pronounced.
GL.

I agree with this. It's only 30 minutes further away, and 6 am is not a crazy time to have to wake up to go to work for a special event.

The only thing that might tilt my thinking the other direction is if day 1 is ending with a late dinner and an expectation that you'll stick around for drinks.

emberlee3 · February 2014

Are your medical issues something your boss is aware of and that require accommodations on a daily basis? If not, don't say anything. Sleep at home and have a protein shake on the drive. At most, you might ask for reimbursement for the additional mileage.

EgoCommaAlter · February 2014

Thanks ladies.

Yes, there is a late evening the night before.

Yes, the medical issues are something work is aware of. The only accommodations I require are those I can manage myself, with some employer flexibility (permission to eat sometimes in meetings, etc).

It's peak tourist season in a high-demand tourist area - one so upscale the closest Motel 6 is 20 miles away in a bad part of town. Ugh.

jesuisfatiguee · February 2014

Can't hurt to ask. If you're shy, maybe ask them for to pay for at least part of the bill. I don't think it's terribly unreasonable to think they should pay if this is a required trip.

Or, just take snacks in the car on the way to breakfast.

SunAndRain · February 2014

Is this on a weekend too?

Honestly I'm floored that they expect you to stay late and then return the next day for a retreat without picking up the hotel tab for all employees. Bad planning. If they couldn't manage the budget then they should just have a team builder type event that is one day only.

I honestly don't know if I'd ask to be comp'd. By "underpaid" are you making $50K or six figures? That would factor in to my decision (FYI, NOT asking you to share your salary! )

snicksnack · February 2014

I would ask. I live 85 miles from my main work location my employeer allows me to work 3 days a week from a sat. location 30 miles from home and one day from home. I drive to Va. one day a week. When we have events near the main office he always lets me stay in a hotel and picks up the tab. I guess it depends on how many employees are in your situation. There are times I drive to Va. multiple days in a week I just eat in the car and again when I get to work. Not a big deal.

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Employees pay for hotel stays on company retreat?

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