Has your employer ever forced you to share a hotel room?
Jun 16, 2008, 9:04 am
#226
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: GR, MI
Posts: 38
This thread had me digging through the employee handbook for the first time in the three years I've been here. Although I've never been forced to share a room (and wouldn't), it doesn't say in the handbook that we can't. Two of my coworkers had to share a room two weeks ago in New York, but I don't think that would happen to me. Even when the boss took all the guys in the office out for one guys bachelor party, he got us all individual hotel rooms (10-11).
Incidentally, a friend that works for a national private investigation company was traveling for business and he and a coworker he'd never met decided to share a room and split the difference. The other guy turned out to be gun nut who spent the night telling my friend about the imminent collapse of the U.S. and how he should move to the middle of nowhere and horde food, fuel and guns. That's enough reason there to never share a room.
Incidentally, a friend that works for a national private investigation company was traveling for business and he and a coworker he'd never met decided to share a room and split the difference. The other guy turned out to be gun nut who spent the night telling my friend about the imminent collapse of the U.S. and how he should move to the middle of nowhere and horde food, fuel and guns. That's enough reason there to never share a room.
Jun 16, 2008, 9:04 am
#227
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, DL MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,445
At my present company, there was a married couple that often had to travel to the same meetings. Also, my partner was sometimes engaged as an interpreter for meetings that I had to attend. For both couples it was made clear that the same travel policies applied to us as to everyone else, and if we wanted two rooms per couple there would be no objection at all.
Jun 16, 2008, 1:51 pm
#228
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Homebase: CAE - Formerly, YUL
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Posts: 2,187
I think you'll find that the majority of American companies do not require sharing of rooms, but that some companies do. May be 95% - 5% at the most. (pure speculation on my part).
I grew up in Canada and I've never had to share a hotel room with co-workers, only when I was younger we shared a 3-bedroom condo.
JP
I grew up in Canada and I've never had to share a hotel room with co-workers, only when I was younger we shared a 3-bedroom condo.
JP
Jun 16, 2008, 2:09 pm
#229
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New York City
Programs: Delta Gold
Posts: 106
Way back when I first entered the workforce my company required us to share hotel rooms. I thought it was normal until I went to another company and my manager looked at me funny when I asked who'd I be sharing my room with.
Nowadays, I run my own business. It's small, but I certainly wouldn't ask anybody who worked for me to share a room. Of course, we're not going to be staying at the high-end hotels either.
Nowadays, I run my own business. It's small, but I certainly wouldn't ask anybody who worked for me to share a room. Of course, we're not going to be staying at the high-end hotels either.
Jun 17, 2008, 5:16 am
#230
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: No single airline or hotel chain is of much use to me anymore.
Posts: 3,279
In theory it is strongly encouraged, but the gender makeup makes it pretty impractical in most cases.
The bone of contention around here is a client who prefers that we stay as his guests on his property. It is partly a cultural thing, but it isn't entirely impractical given most of the nearby accomodations look like the Bates Motel.
Some love it, some hate it.
The bone of contention around here is a client who prefers that we stay as his guests on his property. It is partly a cultural thing, but it isn't entirely impractical given most of the nearby accomodations look like the Bates Motel.
Some love it, some hate it.
Nov 23, 2009, 2:42 pm
#231
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 21
ugh...The concept of sharing a room with a coworker is disgusting. Not that I find my coworkers revolting, but to send you away on business and not even give you a room to yourself is ridiculous. I feel like employers think that travelling for them is a benefit.
I myself have never had to share a room for work, but I once heard from some employees at Wal-Mart that it's company policy for all employees to share rooms.
I myself have never had to share a room for work, but I once heard from some employees at Wal-Mart that it's company policy for all employees to share rooms.
Nov 23, 2009, 5:16 pm
#232
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
ugh...The concept of sharing a room with a coworker is disgusting. Not that I find my coworkers revolting, but to send you away on business and not even give you a room to yourself is ridiculous. I feel like employers think that travelling for them is a benefit.
I myself have never had to share a room for work, but I once heard from some employees at Wal-Mart that it's company policy for all employees to share rooms.
I myself have never had to share a room for work, but I once heard from some employees at Wal-Mart that it's company policy for all employees to share rooms.
As we come back to normalcy I predict that if a room has 2 beds then the 2 beds will be used...just like common sense would dictate.
Nov 23, 2009, 9:26 pm
#233
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Posts: 15,354
If my company put such a policy in place, I would actively seek out another job and travel as little as possible until I had one.
Nov 23, 2009, 9:36 pm
#234
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
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Certainly not. Common sense does not dictate that you snore, talk gibberish, pass gas, etc. in the presence of people you are not personally involved with. As I think I posted way earlier in this old thread: never in hell, depression or no depression. I'll sleep in the Avis car first.
Nov 23, 2009, 9:49 pm
#235
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
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Seriously, I don't share hotel rooms when traveling and don't find sharing rooms to be a valid stipulation from the company.
Nov 23, 2009, 10:16 pm
#236
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Montreal, Qc, Canada
Programs: SPG, Aeroplan, SkyMiles,Avis
Posts: 104
Ahhh memories...
Cheers, Matt
Nov 24, 2009, 12:50 am
#237
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: SYD
Posts: 1,363
Although, when I was back at uni I went on a 2 day job interview for a Big 6 (in those days) accounting firm, and they made us share rooms. I still remember, my room mate was so drunk from the dinner, when I got up the next morning he was asleep on the bathroom floor. Ahh... those were the days
Nov 24, 2009, 1:22 am
#238
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,716
In my business travels, I find that quite a few companies require their rank and file employees who travel to share hotel rooms on business trips. Not only have I met people who work in start-ups, non-profits, and other types of smaller businesses who I suspect could be more subject to such a policy, but have encountered workers from well-known firms headquartered on Fifth Avenue in NYC subject to such an edict.
I'm very much a loner, and would find it extremely uncomfortable to be assigned a roommate who is a co-worker, or sometimes complete stranger, to satisfy a corporate policy. A few years ago, I was offered a very good job with a non-profit, but since their policy dictated sharing a hotel room at annual conferences with one (or more) co-workers, I declined.
Several years ago, a friend of mine was thrilled to land a position with a prestigious organization that required heavy travel. Such thrill was short-lived as she was unaware they required room sharing, which she called "the ultimate intrusion", and could endure this only for a couple years and quit. Needless to say, her situation taught me to ask a future employer about their travel policies before accepting the job.
I'm curious to know of others' experience in this dilemma. If your employer has this policy, is there any option (other than quitting, or requesting a position that does not involve travel) if you don't want to share a room? If you comply and share rooms, how does it work out? Ever been assigned a complete stranger or disliked co-worker as your roommate?
I'm very much a loner, and would find it extremely uncomfortable to be assigned a roommate who is a co-worker, or sometimes complete stranger, to satisfy a corporate policy. A few years ago, I was offered a very good job with a non-profit, but since their policy dictated sharing a hotel room at annual conferences with one (or more) co-workers, I declined.
Several years ago, a friend of mine was thrilled to land a position with a prestigious organization that required heavy travel. Such thrill was short-lived as she was unaware they required room sharing, which she called "the ultimate intrusion", and could endure this only for a couple years and quit. Needless to say, her situation taught me to ask a future employer about their travel policies before accepting the job.
I'm curious to know of others' experience in this dilemma. If your employer has this policy, is there any option (other than quitting, or requesting a position that does not involve travel) if you don't want to share a room? If you comply and share rooms, how does it work out? Ever been assigned a complete stranger or disliked co-worker as your roommate?
Nov 24, 2009, 6:38 am
#240
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
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Posts: 5,521
I always had the sharing a room issue in the same category/class of policy as a company that keeps employees frequent flyer miles.
Never have and never would work for a firm so cheap and pathetic.
Never have and never would work for a firm so cheap and pathetic.