Shared Hotel Rooms for Work
- Thread starter throwittoblythe
- Start date
In re-reading the email from our CEO, I noticed that he never used the word “policy.” He referred to it as “we are returning to our practice of shared rooms.”
To me that says they know they can’t push this on people if they resist. It’s not a policy, it’s an “encouraged practice.” It would create a huge HR liability if someone tells you they are uncomfortable with it and you make them do it anyway.
Based on that, and my boss saying “use your judgment,” I’m going to avoid doing this because it is not something I’m comfortable with. I’ll consider it, but not something I’m going to do as part of normal practice.
I don’t feel like I owe them any explanation beyond “I’m not comfortable with this” and leave it at that. I’m not required to disclose anything that gives specific reasons why.
If they really want to push it on me, that will change the tone of conversation.
To me that says they know they can’t push this on people if they resist. It’s not a policy, it’s an “encouraged practice.” It would create a huge HR liability if someone tells you they are uncomfortable with it and you make them do it anyway.
Based on that, and my boss saying “use your judgment,” I’m going to avoid doing this because it is not something I’m comfortable with. I’ll consider it, but not something I’m going to do as part of normal practice.
I don’t feel like I owe them any explanation beyond “I’m not comfortable with this” and leave it at that. I’m not required to disclose anything that gives specific reasons why.
If they really want to push it on me, that will change the tone of conversation.
Would be interesting to know if the CEO or other big wigs of your organization share rooms on their road ventures.
That's a good check. If you really wanted to be safe, I'd try and actually read your companies travel policy.
They claim that they do and I haven’t heard any evidence to the contrary. I still don’t plan on doing it.
Totally don't think you should. As cockeyed as their logic seems to be about this, it wouldn't surprise me that they were hypocrites.
Honestly, if this is the “practice”, I would start looking for work elsewhere, especially if you travel frequently. As others have said, highly questionable that this is a culture thing (at least a positive culture item) and it really comes across as being cheap. If that type of expense can make a significant difference in the bottom line, then there are bigger business issues in play here.
I once went to an engineering conference through Iowa State. We came with the knowledge that the conference had booked our hotels. When we got there, we found out it was 4 to a room and they mixed colleges. I slept in the same bed as a dude from U of Arkansas and OkSt and WashU of St Louis guys were in the other bed. Everyone was uncomfortable.
If I knew better, I would have booked my own room at my expense.
Never share a room. Treat yourself better than that.
If I knew better, I would have booked my own room at my expense.
Never share a room. Treat yourself better than that.
As a quasi introvert, being around another person after a day of conferencing or whatever is basically a nightmare.
I still don't understand the CEO's argument that sharing rooms improves the culture. If anything, it makes it worse.
The amount of anxiety this whole thing has given me despite not being in a profession/business where I'd ever be asked to travel, let alone share a room, should tell you everything you need to know. The whole concept of having to share a hotel room with someone you either don't know, barely know or know on a work level gives me the absolute heebie-jeebies.
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I'm very extroverted and very introverted at the same time. I love talking to people. I really enjoy manning a booth at a conference and just chatting people up all day. BUT, I need to be alone in my room at night to recharge. Spending all day talking to people and then having to chat with a coworker in our shared room at night is a nightmare for me, too. It's not healthy for me.
So this has already come up for me in real practice.
I have to travel with a coworker this week. This person is someone I've talked with on the phone a few times, but never met in person. In the course of our conversations, he has mentioned he's a "night owl" and usually goes to sleep between midnight and 2am. Oh and he's also a generation older than me.
I am 100% an early bird. I'm asleep by 9:30pm most nights and up by 5am. Even if I were on board with the sharing thing, this is not a compatible rooming situation. I've already informed him that I'll be booking a separate room. No response back yet.
I have to travel with a coworker this week. This person is someone I've talked with on the phone a few times, but never met in person. In the course of our conversations, he has mentioned he's a "night owl" and usually goes to sleep between midnight and 2am. Oh and he's also a generation older than me.
I am 100% an early bird. I'm asleep by 9:30pm most nights and up by 5am. Even if I were on board with the sharing thing, this is not a compatible rooming situation. I've already informed him that I'll be booking a separate room. No response back yet.
Exactly. If they want to ”improve work culture” outside of work when traveling, doing a team dinner/drinks/activity (like attending a sport event) are the typical safe choices.
separate rooms is needed. sharing makes it work 24/7, not healthy
This is fairly normal from my experience to get the room cost lower per person. Have done it on several bachelor parties as well but that is among friends.