room sharing with colleagues?!?

mommaoftrips · May 2014

Recently, my work has started to 'require' that we share rooms while coming together for our 2-days face-to-face meetings (roughly quarterly but this has increased slightly as well). While I don't really mind doing this for one night (although, I always end up with a snoring hibernating grizzly bear) this time around they require us to come for three days!
I am slightly annoyed, that is a lot of time to spend with colleague - not my twin sister of BFFs. So when do I get downtime - time to myself. You can't really relax with a stranger beside you all the time and for 3 days! Sheeesh.
This is mostly, a rant but if anyone has any suggestions on how I can approach my boss on this issue. I would appreciate it.
I was also thinking of asking to do a marathon first day of meetings to cut it down to 2, as normally we go out for supper as an entire team so why not make it an entire working day.
The other part that is hard now, is to be away from the LOs for 3 days straight.
Thanks for reading the entire way through - if you did, you're a super start

mommaoftrips · May 2014

Star not start. Lol

jlaOK · May 2014

I have friends who have to do this with their job (non-profit) but it does not sound fun. Can you find a less expensive hotel and offer to pay half? That's the only thing I can think of.

groovygrl · May 2014

I have always worked in the nonprofit and academic worlds where money is tight and have never had this as a requirement....however, traveling was not a requirement either. one time a coworker and I wanted to go to a conference on another coast and made the decision to share so it would be approved, and we were friends so it was ok. I have not shared since and find it pretty terrible that it would be required for a required trip of multiple nights...my husband works in finance and when I have brought this topic up in the past he is always totally shocked that ppl would do that...he doesn't even like sharing a room w a friend on a guys trip if it is not necessary lol. If this is a company wide policy I am not sure there is much you can do aside from maybe seeing of a collective group can go to hr with some potential arguments against it...?

mommaoftrips · May 2014

Ugh! Ladies, this is soo stressful and I don't want to pay out of my own pocket for what I don't believe is a fair 'standard' that has been set put is NOT policy. I also hate being the one who 'always speaks-up and rocks the boat'.

jf198400 · May 2014

This is absolutely ridiculous. When I was an INTERN in college my company had a big intern conference with students from all over the country. My BFF and college roommate was also working there. We asked to room share and were told that it was company policy for everyone to have their own room.
How old are your LOs? Can you use the pumping excuse as a reason for a private room?

thedash · May 2014

I would definitely pay out of pocket for my own room but I know that's not a great solution. I don't even like sharing a hotel room with my mother or close friends.

litzo27 · May 2014

I would feel the waters with your colleagues and if they are as unhappy (how could they not be?) suggest that you bring it up together to HR. What's the worst - they'll stay with the policy. But maybe they can reduce the frequency or duration of trips but give each one a room.

mommaoftrips · May 2014

@K3am LOVE this idea but Nope, we don't have that... so I can bring this idea up too. Bahaha. I am such the 'black sheep', it's a good thing my colleagues like me and I am meeting most of my deliverables.

ASmallWonder · May 2014

I would feel SO squicky about having to share a room with someone who, really, you don't know. Sure, you work with them but you don't REALLY know them. Mega violation of policy so I agree that I'd see how your colleagues feel about it and then approach the issue as a group.

Ago · May 2014

I work for a non-profit, and we've always had to do this. I don't love it. I had a best friend working with me, so it was easy to claim a room together, which helped a lot. However, she is leaving so I have to share with others. I know most staff pretty well, because we've all been there a while, so I can get through it. However, I have to go to an annual conference with a group I present with, none from my work, and have to share with one of them too. I HATE that, it is really uncomfortable and I dread it each year. Each year I share with someone different in that instance.

cecilyandgautam · May 2014

If your company is looking to cut costs, then they should look into renting out several big houses on AirBnB - you'd get your own room, but share the kitchen and probably have to share a bathroom. They could give employees the option to share a hotel room or get their own room in a group house.

jlaOK · May 2014

Can you get a hold of your HR handbook and try and find something in there that can get you out of it? As careful as companies have to be because of harassment issues it would seem as there might be a generic statement in the handbook that could apply to room sharing. If you bring it up with documentation I'm sure they'd be likely to ere on the side of caution.

DiveFrog · May 2014

cecilyandgautam said:

If your company is looking to cut costs, then they should look into renting out several big houses on AirBnB - you'd get your own room, but share the kitchen and probably have to share a bathroom. They could give employees the option to share a hotel room or get their own room in a group house.

This is what my brother did when he was in a similar situation. He was working on a month or longer project with a few others and they were required to share hotel rooms. He pitched the cost savings of renting a condo or house and it was approved. Everyone got their own bedrooms and were much happier with the arrangement.

groovygrl · May 2014

I'm curious, if there are an odd number of same sex people, how do they decide who doesn't have to share?

nolagal79 · May 2014

Yea -
We always have to share rooms when we go to corporate meetings or pay half of the room rate if we don't want to share. I never share my room - I want my own bathroom plus don't want to sleep in the same room as someone I don't really know. No thanks!!

ss+el · May 2014

I have always had to have a roommate when I've traveled for work. The last time, my "roomie" had a friend in the area, so ended up staying there, but otherwise I've never had a room to myself. I also don't get to choose. Usually, I end up with a subordinate, which I don't feel is beneath me, but it can be a little awkward.

Maybride2 · May 2014

I've always worked in non profit, and I've always had to share a room when traveling with female colleagues. I don't like it, but I guess I'm used to it. Plus I'm not paying OOP for my own room when it's a work commitment, not a vacation.

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