Sharing hotel rooms with coworkers?

[gotomu212]

In this day and age I'm surprised that some companies think it's okay as long as it's same-sex sharing. Your sex really doesn't define your sexual orientation.

Beyond that this seems like a huge liability for harassment and a hostile work environment claim (not just restricted to sex but privacy behaviors, seeing people in less than normal dress, security of belongings).

Disclaimer I travel on average a week a month and have never been expected to share a room.

 

[E&Cmom]

Years ago while we were dating DH went to a big trade show in Europe and ended up sharing the room with one of the founders/directors of the company. No matter who you were you shared and no one flew first class. DH still works there but the company was bought out many years ago. DH has only travelled for work twice in 15 years so I don't know how things are now.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Honestly, for a few nights of vacation or something casual when I am not expected to be working hard and "on" sharing a room with most people would not bother me. And for a night or two there are a number of people who I would be fine sharing a bed with (but all ones I do know well).

BUT, I still think a company asking employees to make the sacrifices inherent in regular travel needs to respect that employee enough to provide them with a quiet, private place to decompress, sleep, get work done, lounge around in underwear watching TV, talk to spouses back home about sensitive subjects without fear of being overheard or whatever else that person wants to do with their "free" time (one week a month as stated in the OP is 25%, and i would say about that much or more is regular)

 

[mnrose]

Never, in all my years of business travel, was I asked to share a room. Ever. It's just weird, and I wouldn't like it. I'd pay a single supplement and ask for my own room before I'd stay with someone else.

 

[BLAZEY]

Union employees here have in the contract that all "live out" arrangements are private accommodations. My company policy extends this to the non union staff as well.

 

[justgrace]

It's interesting to me that so many people would want their own room on a business trip. To the people who are against sleeping in the same room as another person (not family, close friends), what do you think about college dorms?

 

[aprilgail]

It's interesting to me that so many people would want their own room on a business trip. To the people who are against sleeping in the same room as another person (not family, close friends), what do you think about college dorms?

Personally a dorm would not have worked for me, I do not like sharing my space- I didn't have to share it as a kid and I certainly would not have wanted to share it in college.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

It's interesting to me that so many people would want their own room on a business trip. To the people who are against sleeping in the same room as another person (not family, close friends), what do you think about college dorms?

This is not even a comparison to me. These are 17-22 year old kids which have signed up for dorm living and are paying to go to college. That is their HOME during that time. They don't have spouses or kids. AND They have other options...get a job and pay for you own apartment, stay at parents' or relative's home and commute.

This is a discussion about adults - 30, 40, 50 year old adults. They have spouses and kids they want to talk to in the evening. They may have sensitive topics to discuss/tend to in the evening. They have accepted a job with this employer and expect to be treated with respect. Respect to me is giving people their own room on a business trip so that they can have some privacy while they've been forced away from their home and those important to them for the sake of their company. IF the company can't afford to give them their own room then maybe they need to reevaluate if this travel is necessary.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I have been with the same organization about 22 years. In the very beginning, it was common to share a hotel room with the same sex person. Since 2000 though, everyone is entitled to their own room. We can choose to share if we wish, but there is no pressure to do so. (I think a specific incident triggered the change in policy). We are also not allowed to stay in a hotel room within 60 miles of our city, which is a problem since we often are required to go to 2-day meetings in our state capitol which is about 50 miles away. Its a pain to drive back and forth for 2 days, so sometimes I just pay for my own room.

We are expected to carpool if driving, however.

Similar. When I started with my company 28 years ago, sharing rooms was required. Then about the same time frame, early 2001, the policy changed to each person having his/her own room. A few incidents led to the change. We can still share if both parties are willing. And yes, if the travel is less than 50 miles away, we're expected to commute daily. Sometimes I'll pay out of pocket to avoid the travel.

We did, however, downgrade when the private room policy came into effect. Instead of a Sheraton or Hilton, we stayed at Hampton Inns or Hilton Garden Inns or similar.

I never had a problem with sharing a room with a co-worker. Some newer employees are aghast when we talk about the old days, just like some are here.

For PTA conferences with our school they put you 4 in a room so not only do you have to share the room you have to share the BED! I turned down every conference they wanted to send me to because sharing a room is bad enough but I am NOT sharing a bed with someone I hardly know!

Once, in my former company, four of us arrived after midnight, and due to some mix-up, there was only one reservation and the motel was otherwise sold out. And they didn't have any cots. We had to be up and out by before 7am, so the four of us guys just dealt with it for the one night. That company was a real penny pincher; they didn't want anyone spending more than $50 a night for a room, and preferred you spend much cheaper, like a Motel 6 or Days Inn.

 

[Poohforyou]

It's interesting to me that so many people would want their own room on a business trip. To the people who are against sleeping in the same room as another person (not family, close friends), what do you think about college dorms?

I did a lot of things in my late teens/early 20's that I wouldn't consider doing now. Also, you go to college with the expectation of sharing a room and bathroom.

Unless my employer fully disclosed that travel and room sharing are requirements of the job prior to my accepting the position I consider it dirty poker.

I actually remembered one time I shared a hotel room with several work people. It was when a storm hit during the work day and the snow was so bad many of us couldn't get home. Work put up essential people and I crashed in one of the rooms.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I won't even share a room with a friend or sister let alone a colleague from work.

 

[MataHari22]

I had a job where I had to go through a lot of training far away, and I also went to three conventions when I worked for that company. The maximum amount of days in a row that I was away from home and my ex-husband, was 8 days at once, but that was a one time situation. Most trips were between 3-5 days, and I would say I probably had about 10 or so trips total. We were always expected to share a room with another colleague, of the same sex. I was never thrilled to have to do that, because I am someone who does like privacy and I do need that alone time. One time, they wanted to put three of us in a room, they wanted us to share a bed, and that, I absolutely wouldn't do that, I draw the line there, one of the other girls ended up sleeping on the couch, I think. Our diverse sexual orientations was never an issue for any of us.

 

[Disney Doll]

I've done it once. The person I shared with I liked and she liked me so we had fun in the room and it was fine.

But I still prefer my own room to sharing with a co-worker.

 

[awalker1015]

I'm fine sharing a room with my girlfriends. We do it all the time. Do not like sharing with coworkers for these reasons:

I'm a private person and don't share a lot with work colleagues

I get up super early to run and go to bed early for the same reason

I'm a very light sleeper and half the time can't even share with my husband due to snoring, tossing etc.

I only travel once or twice a year for work. Last time they had the women share rooms and the men got their own. :/

 

[WDWBarb]

At my last job, I was never asked to share a room. I traveled quite a bit (admittedly, I was the only female that traveled for them) and no one ever was asked to share.

At my new job, you have to share. I really dislike it, although I am good friends with everyone I have to share with, I can't stand it. I get up EARLY and go to bed early. I sleep with the TV on. I want to walk around in my ratty PJ's and listen to music. But instead I have to conform to whatever my roommate wants to do. And lying quietly in bed at 4 a.m. and freezing my rear off because someone else "sleeps hot" is miserable.

On my last overnight trip with a roommate (someone I consider a very good friend), I noticed right away that the bathroom doors were somewhat transparent. She assured me that you could only see shadows through them (she had stayed there before) and you couldn't see anything. The next morning when she was taking a shower I learned differently! You better bet that I was covered up every second I was in that bathroom after that.

My feeling is this - if companies want you to travel for them, they should be ready to put up the $$ for a room for everyone.

 

[awalker1015]

I had a job where I had to go through a lot of training far away, and I also went to three conventions when I worked for that company. The maximum amount of days in a row that I was away from home and my ex-husband, was 8 days at once, but that was a one time situation. Most trips were between 3-5 days, and I would say I probably had about 10 or so trips total. We were always expected to share a room with another colleague, of the same sex. I was never thrilled to have to do that, because I am someone who does like privacy and I do need that alone time. One time, they wanted to put three of us in a room, they wanted us to share a bed, and that, I absolutely wouldn't do that, I draw the line there, one of the other girls ended up sleeping on the couch, I think. Our diverse sexual orientations was never an issue for any of us.

Asking anyone to share a bed is out of line in my opinion.

 

[Skippy918]

I used to travel a lot for work in a previous job and never had to share a room. I am going on a business trip in a few months and we all have our own rooms.

 

[tvguy]

I've worked for 7 companies over the last 40 years and sharing a room with a same gender co-worker has always been standard procedure, as was flying coach.
Assignments for travel are always paired based on gender. A female reporter will always be assigned a female photographer for a trip, and a male reporter, a male photographer.

 

[shoney]

It's interesting to me that so many people would want their own room on a business trip. To the people who are against sleeping in the same room as another person (not family, close friends), what do you think about college dorms?

No flippin way....I wouldn't go away to school ... I don't stay at anyone's house (except my parents). My own hotel room or no go!!! i would pay for it pay for it myself if i had to!

 

[tvguy]

Union employees here have in the contract that all "live out" arrangements are private accommodations. My company policy extends this to the non union staff as well.

Everything is negotiable in a union contract. My wife's union contract has the "must share a room if same gender" travel clause, It did when I worked there back in 1977 too.