Weirded out

[Hannathy]

I am a very private person, I don't like to change in front of people etc. There will be a lot of people there for this training I am curious to see how other regions are handling this. If they get their own rooms, I am going to be upset with our director. Well, more upset, I should say since I am already pretty angry. I am willing to bet she will be in her own room. My husband thinks I should ask to share with her, and see what kind of reasons she gives when she says no. Haha. Then make her give me my own.

Uhh unless you have a written contract spelling out things you can't "make" her do anything. And what she does is of no business to you or have anything to do with how you are treated. And unless you are very sure about your job I don't think I would be being snarky with my boss about now, with all the cut backs. Companies are cutting back a lot right now.

If you don't like it then pay for it yourself, or refuse to go and bear the consequences of your decision.

 

[marcyinPA]

Ditto. But then again I am used to close quarters with people so it would not bother me as much. However I would not be happy about that is for sure.

OP, I would certainly check your company policies to double check that your company is following it and save ALL receipts for next year's taxes.

I would also be more irritated by the fact they are not paying for food more than the sharing of the room.

Does the room have a kitchen or the hotel have a microwave or in room fridge? At least you could go to the store and get breakfast/lunch items to cut expenses there.

My DH does this when he travels, even with a per diem! He would rather eat bagged salad and soup for a few days to save money, than to dine in a restaurant every night. He always comes home with travel money when he travels. (of course, his company gave him a pretty big pay cut last year, so saving per diem money has become a necessity).

 

[beaucoup]

That's just wrong. I would be springing for my own room before I shared with a stranger for 6 weeks.

 

[acejka]

My job would be lacking an employee come Monday morning if I was in your situation. If it was some kind of 2 bed 2 bath suite/condo deal, I would be fine with that, but I'm not fine with a hotel room. I'm too OCD about stuff and I suffer from insomnia and when that happens I sit up reading-my roomate would just loovvveee that. Or what if the tables are turned and she sits up with a light on when you want to be sleeping? How does that work? And what about your personal stuff? I wouldn't want her having access to my purse or luggage. And what if she comes in in the late hours drunk?

Good thing I never went away to college, I wouldn't have made it very long... hell I don't even like sharing with my husband!! I bother him getting up and down for a drink and the bathroom or lights or reading or whatever and then I always end up stubbing a toe or bumping the door and making noise that way. And I can't stand when he moves my stuff around in the bathroom-arg!

 

[RachaelA]

DH has to share a room if he travels with someone (and has stayed with people he didn't know). Plus his job doesn't cover any meals. When we met, he was traveling 3 full weeks a month. It sucked, but it was part of the job.

Can you get a fridge and microwave? You could eat salads and sandwiches most nights to save money.

 

[Liberty Belle]

That's insane. I've traveled for business with a friend/coworker for 3 nights to a conference, and even that was too much. And she's a good friend.

I think I'd quit. I wonder if it was two men if they would make them share a room .

My DH goes to an annual conference and usually has to share the room (and the car ride down) with a co-worker, but it's only for five days. He doesn't really mind, but of course would rather have a private room. This year the co-worker says he doesn't think he can go and the conference this year happens to be in Orlando (!), so I'm hoping the kids and I can go with him.

OP, I think six weeks is way too long for the company to ask you to do this AND they definitely should cover your meals if they said they would.

 

[minniecarousel]

suck it up and do it. cripe.

Really?

How about personal space? 6 weeks is way too long to have to put up with this arrangement, especially with last-minute notification.

Not sure why they don't think reimbursing for some meals isn't necessary. You have to eat, you'd be eating at home (duh!) but it's most likely that you'd be cooking some of your meals at home. Is there a kitchen in your room?

Is this a company you're happy with? I know that in this economy, it'd be tough to quit over this, but I'd keep my eye open for other jobs. They sound kind of callous.

 

[Mermaid02]

After one night with me the woman would be getting her own room- I snore loudly, really loudly.

 

[FayeW]

Is the training every day during the 6 weeks or are you close enough/able to come home for the weekends? I would check with the hotel to see if they have any larger rooms (two room suite or a "jr suite" that might have a living room area with a pull out couch so at least you could have some separate spaces. Perhaps you could up grade to something like that and split the additional cost between you.

I would probably be spending tonight and tomorrow investigating the options for renting my own room. Find out what other accomodations are available for you near the training site...maybe you could get a housekeeping unit that has microwave/toaster/coffeemaker/fridge...something where you could at least prepare a light meal or snack to help with the costs. I bet if you told us the city we could come up with something for you!

 

[LisaR]

suck it up and do it. cripe.

Really? 6 weeks with a total stranger that you just met yesterday and you can't even concede that it could be, at minimum, uncomfortable?

I would not be thrilled if I had to do this for 1, 2 or 3 nights but I would agree with the "suck it up" comment. But 6 weeks? I would either pay for my own room, look for a house/condo/suite to rent that a few of you can share where you would all have your own space, or skip the conference altogether.

I don't think the lack of a food budget is a deal breaker. If this isn't a mandatory event, I can see why they wouldn't pay for food. They don't pay for your lunch when you are working during the week. Usually things like this have some snacks in the morning and afternoon and many companies expect you to supply your own breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Packing for the dreaded trip!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

sharing a room wouldn't bother me so much. I have done it before - though not for six weeks. I would give a try first.

DH works for a great company and they sometimes share rooms, but they also get a VERY generous per diem.

A company would not be sending me out of town for something they wanted without covering all expenses!!! I don't care whether it is two days or six weeks.

The only way I would do it is after pushing for meals to be covered. If they refused, the only way I would do it is if it really was of great benefit to me overall. It would have to be at least as beneficial (if not more) to me as to the company.

 

[LisaR]

sharing a room wouldn't bother me so much. I have done it before - though not for six weeks. DH works for a great company and they sometimes share rooms, but they also get a VERY generous per diem.

A company would not be sending me out of town for something they wanted without covering all expenses!!! I don't care whether it is two days or six weeks.

The only way I would do it is after pushing for meals to be covered. If they refused, the only way I would do it is if it really was of great benefit to me overall. It would have to be at least as beneficial (if not more) to me as to the company.

Maybe I am wrong here but it sounds like this isn't mandatory. It isn't something the company is making the OP do. It sounds like they offer workshops and you have a choice of attending or not attending.

If that is the case, I can understand why they are expected to spend their own money on food and I can even understand them making people share a room. However, they should have at least been told this far in advance and allowed to pick their own roommate or given an option of paying extra for their own room.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

If they are cutting costs with the room sharing, then the least they could do is provide a meal allowance. Six weeks is a long time!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Packing for the dreaded trip!

I hope it goes better than you anticipate.

I hope the woman is super nice and you two become friends. That would be a nice silver lining.

Update us when you get a chance.

 

[Witch Mountain]

I've done it. It wasn't horrible. Heck, my first day on a new job with a large, international bank, they flew me to NY after my orientation meeting. There, I met up with the other members of my department (a dozen women) and we spent the next seven weeks splitting the rooms most weeks. (I think there was one where the hotel wasn't booked solid and we got to have solo rooms that had jacuzzi's.)

My coworkers had done it for 3 weeks prior and most ended up choosing to keep the same roommates throughout. I got the other woman who snored. At least we didn't wake each other up. And yes, I had problems with sharing a bathroom and shower and dressing with a stranger in the room.

That said, all our meals were covered and most of them were consumed as a group at one place. I had friends who lived nearby and there were a couple of times where they came and rescued me when I needed a break, because the boss was very weird.

All in all, I'm glad we did have that time as a new group together out of state, because we ended up being a very close-knit group from spending so much time together. Your situation sounds quite different, but you never know, the two of you might end up becoming good friends.

 

[Green Tea]

I could not do it. No way.

 

[Disney Doll]

I did it for 4 nights a few years back, but I knew and liked my roommate/coworker, so it was actually fun...sort of liek a slumber party.

Another twosome in our group didn't go so well. One of the ladies was quite selfish about the shared space and took about 1.5 hours in the bathroom and would ask her roommate to leave the room while she spoke with her family for hours at a time in the evening. The other gal ended up waking up at 5am to get some time to shower and stuff and she hung out in our room a lot while the "private conversations" were going on.

We got a $35/day meal stipend.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Maybe I am wrong here but it sounds like this isn't mandatory. It isn't something the company is making the OP do. It sounds like they offer workshops and you have a choice of attending or not attending.

If that is the case, I can understand why they are expected to spend their own money on food and I can even understand them making people share a room. However, they should have at least been told this far in advance and allowed to pick their own roommate or given an option of paying extra for their own room.

that's true. I also agree they shouldn't have let them know more in advance!

 

[anniemae]

op-you are braver than I am!!! Good luck, oh and please check in with us and let us know how it is going. We'll help get you through this!