HR Soapbox Blog

What's The Big Deal About Sharing A Room?

(Published August 10, 2009)

Let's say there's an out-of-town business conference that a bunch of employees would like to attend. Like everyone else right now, your employer is trying to be more cost-conscious, so the travel budget's been slashed in half. Rather than denying some of the would-be attendees the chance to go, you decide to have the attendees share hotel rooms. And upon hearing this new policy, all heck breaks loose.

Why??? I don't get it. I've shared hotel rooms many times on business trips and have never had any problems at all. I've even shared rooms with complete strangers from other companies who were attending the same conference. I just treated each roommate with respect and deference, and received the same treatment in return. (I actually found it easier to share a room with a complete stranger than with a co-worker — I tended to worry less about what they'll think of my personal quirks and foibles, what they'll tell everyone about our time together back at the office, etc.)

Is it a perfectly comfy-cozy arrangement, akin to being on a luxurious solo vacation? No, it's not. But on a company-sponsored business trip — emphasis on business — compromises must be made. Besides, on most business trips, attendees spend precious little time in the actual hotel room; it really is just a place for sleeping at night and getting ready in the morning, not the sanctuary it might be on a personal vacation.

If you do decide to have employees share rooms during business trips, be prepared to hear some of these common arguments…and feel free to borrow or adapt my less-than-sympathetic replies!

I always sleep au naturale. Too bad. This is a business trip. Cover up. If you don't own anything appropriate, go to Target and buy a pair of cotton PJs for under $20. Or at least throw on some old shorts and a t-shirt.

I'm a die-hard smoker OR I'm a non-smoker/asthmatic/allergic to smoke. Ideally, you'll be matched with a roomie who shares the same smoking/non-smoking designation as you. If not, well, smokers should be accustomed to limitations by now, what with smoking being banned in most public buildings, airplanes, etc. At the very least, go out onto the balcony to smoke (if your room has one), or else suck it up and smoke outside the hotel.

I'm scared to room with a same-sex homosexual. Oh, grow up. No one is going to jump your bones in the middle of the night. Just use the bathroom to change in and out of your clothes in private (which most roomies do, regardless).

I snore like a bulldozer. Well, that'll be your roommate's problem, not yours! If, on the other hand, you're concerned that your roommate will snore, just pack earplugs.

As much as I enjoy taking a hard line on this, there is a reasonable compromise you might want to offer: Pay for shared accommodations, and give employees the option of paying the difference for a private room.

If all else fails, remind employees that they're called "travel accommodations" for a reason, and that they're expected to behave like a grownup and accommodate their employer's and their roommate's needs for the few days they'll be there.

Eileen Mager
Writer

Posted by Editorial at 8/10/2009 7:59 AM

I once worked for a company where a number of employees did a great deal of travel. They knew going in that as long as their job title was lower than Director, they would be sharing rooms while traveling. Only Directors and up had any expectation of private rooms, and even Directors were occasionally required to share. If that was not acceptable to them, they didn't get the job. And if they had a problem with it after hiring, the unemployment office was (literally) right down the street.
Posted by: Cathie at 8/10/2009 9:55 AM

Great article!
Posted by: Jeannette Seibly( Visit ) at 8/10/2009 10:31 AM

I don't travel much for my company, and when I do it's generally alone. But I don't like to share a room with anybody but my husband...I'm not even totally comfortable sharing with other family members. It hasn't got anything to do with any of the excuses listed in the article, and I've never really analyzed it to try and figure out why, I just don't like to do it. Luckily, my company doesn't take a hard line on this, even when we do send groups of people for training or to seminars. If they did ask me to share a room, I would just go ahead and pay out of my pocket for a separate room, and nobody here would have a problem with that.
Posted by: Cynthia at 8/10/2009 12:27 PM

It has come up. Easy fix is to offer to split the cost if the person insists on a private room. They pay for upgrades too. Times are tough...we cut back on most travel anyway...web training economical solution.
Posted by: Wendy at 8/11/2009 1:47 PM

Eileen, another good article. I would want people to consider one thing when pairing smokers and non-smokers together however. As a person with allergies, what smokers don't realize is that the smoke is generally in their clothes and hair, so even when sharing a room, some folks could still have an allergic reaction even if there is no smoking in the room.
Posted by: Deb at 8/11/2009 1:48 PM

Although I understand the economic side of requiring employees to share rooms while traveling on business, I'm not a big fan of it either. After spending a full day attending classes, at a conference, meeting, etc, the last thing I want to do is go back to a room and have someone else there to have to interact with. Downtime is important and even though the evenings are short while traveling and time is limited in the hotel rooms at night, I need the quiet time to unwind from the days events and prepare for facing the next days hectic schedule. Fortunately my current employer doesn't require sharing rooms but I once worked for a company that did. The only time I was required to share a room it turned into a nightmare. I was paired with a very inconsiderate roommate from a sister location and I won't ever do that again!
Posted by: Laura at 8/11/2009 1:55 PM

We had two employees on an extended project for more than 10 days working long hours together every day. After spending that much time together, I think they both appreciated some time alone at night after working together and eating together all day. Also what about employees who may be at a seminar and still have work to do late into the evening. The other person needs the lights off, etc. I can definitely see both sides.
Posted by: Colleen at 8/11/2009 2:03 PM

Here's what I don't get. If it's OK to ask, for example, a woman to share a room with a lesbian--because no one's going to jump your bones in the middle of the night--why not require a woman to share a room with a man? Or at least a gay man?
As a lesbian who would never jump anyone's bones in the middle of the night, I've never understood the big deal about sharing a room with a co-worker.
Posted by: Caroline at 8/11/2009 2:22 PM

Sharing a bedroom in your pj's is a very intimate thing and not everyone has the same comfort/discomfort level with that and it's not about being grown up, or worried about somebody jumping your bones.
Posted by: Linda at 8/11/2009 2:55 PM

I guess I can see it both ways. Most of my travel is by myself, so I have all of the time in the world to be by myself when I finally get back to the room. The couple of times that I have had to share rooms have not been too bad...considering that one guy snored like it was going out of business. But, you adjust and go forward. Its really not a big deal.
Posted by: Justin at 8/11/2009 3:16 PM

I was surprised at the tone of this article. Contrary to the "what's the big deal" attitude--it can be a "big deal". The writer Eileen took a rather superficial approach to this issue and completely ignored the fact that there are some very valid reasons for employees to not share rooms. How about considering individuals that have medical conditions which they want (and are entitled to)keep private? A diabetic who needs to store insulin in the mini-fridge; an employee who requires a colostomy bag, a bed wetter and requires special undergarments, or someone who has recently started chemo and is losing their hair--the list can go on.

As was mentioned in a previous post above, while people may not be allowed to smoke "indoors" if someone has allergies to smoke/tobacco--allergies can be triggered as smoke does cling to clothing or someone who has severe allergies to fragrances.

To imply that any employee who disagrees or objects to sharing a room is "not being a grown-up" is not only insensitive but offensive.
Posted by: Merlynn Bertini at 8/11/2009 4:20 PM

Frankly, I was rather surprised by this article, particularly by its negative tone. Like Merlynn, above, I believe that there are legitimate reasons why someone may not want to have to room with someone. For example, as a diabetic I have to do several medically-necessary tasks each evening, all of which I would want to keep private, plus needing to store my insulin in a fridge. Should I be required to inform my employer that I have a "medical reason" why I must room alone? And if I did inform them of that, would they have to accommodate my wishes? How much information would I have to provide them?
Posted by: Linda at 8/11/2009 4:46 PM

I spent 23 years in submarines and have slept in beds the size of a coffin in cramped rooms with 32 other smelly guys. I did this for my country and no one was directly benefiting financially from my doing so. But now that I'm retired, and work for a large corporation, my boss/company is. Anyone traveling for a private, for-profit enterprise should be offered the dignity--notice I did not call it a perquisite--of a single room. So as you can see, there is no right answer to this question--only another "it depends" based on the context of the situation, the culture in which the employees work, and the extent to which a company values their employees as the most important capital asset.
Posted by: Kevin at 8/11/2009 5:07 PM

I totally disagree with this article. I am the CFO of a nonprofit organization. I feel that asking or requiring employees to share rooms is unprofessional and should not be expected of employees. I have discussed this with another CFO who has the same opinion. Co-workers are not friends and being forced into too much intimacy (sleeping, night attire, etc) could be damaging. Snoring, smoking, colds, and different habits are a problem. One employee might want to spend the evening on the phone with their family while the other might want to work, study, or watch TV. People go to bed at different times. I feel that if an employee gives up their own time to travel to a seminar or business meeting (we usually travel the evening before and return in the evening) the company should at least spring for a moderately priced private room. Also I think there could be a discrimination problem if we send two female employees and a male to a seminar, the male gets a single room, and the females are required to share. I have done some online research on company policies. Usually the ones I have found are posted by government agencies and universities. Some do require employees to share, others do not.
Some only pay the federal lodging per diem amount. If the employee wants to pay the extra for pricier lodging it is up to them. Or if two employees want to share a room so they can keep part of their per diem, it is up to them. I think this is fair.

Granted, we are a small organization and don't have a lot of travel expenses. With the recession, we have cut back on some travel and seminars, but have not required employees to share rooms.
Posted by: Maura at 8/11/2009 6:32 PM

Kevin is right in his comment that companies should value their employees and requiring employees to share rooms with co-workers is a sign they don't value their employees.

Also Laura is right that business travel is tiring and employees need to be able to relax in their own room after the meeting or conference.
Posted by: Maura at 8/11/2009 6:39 PM

If I knew that the only way I could go to an event that I really wanted to attend would be to share a room with a co-worker, I'd share. If my company was just being cheap (or even worse, only asking women to share rooms), I'd have problems.

THan again, I have a training class scheduled for October, and I'll be sharing a room with a co-worker who also happens to be a firend. And if I'm lucky, she'll still be a friend when we get abck to town.
Posted by: Dragon Lady at 8/11/2009 7:21 PM

Wow, I was surprised to read this article. It is enough of a burden to have to travel for your company as it is. You are away from your house and family days at a time. If you had to share a room there would be no down time at all. I think if sharing a room is a mandate traveling should be optional. If you care enough to travel to support your company then your company should care about you. I would consider staying in a midgrade hotel instead of first class.
Posted by: Tammy at 8/11/2009 11:07 PM

I am so relieved to see comments from others who disagreed with this article. I was hesitant to voice my opinion based on the comments of everyone who posted before me praising the article and agreeing that anyone not willing to share a room while on business travel is not a 'team player'. Tammy is absolutely correct in that traveling for your company is a burden in that it takes you away from your family for long periods of time. The least that the company can do is provide you with a room you can retrieve to at the end of the day for a little bit of peace and quiet in the evening.
Posted by: Laura at 8/12/2009 8:13 AM

I was very surprised to read your opinion on this issue as well. I applaud the CFO in the earlier posting.

I have been in this position before and was so uncomfortable that I was going to pay for the full cost of my room which I did not think was right since I was required to be at the event. I was pleased when I asked my employer if I could just pay the difference they said yes. But I believe the optimum is to be given a private room.
Posted by: Mary at 8/12/2009 12:00 PM

I really disagree with the writer and resent the tone of the article. I am a diabetic with other health issues that I prefer remain private. Thankfully my company does not require I share a room when traveling. If this policy changes, I will pay the cost difference to have a single room rather than share.
Posted by: Max at 8/12/2009 12:02 PM

I appreciate the comments from others who disagree with the author. I used to have to travel all the time for a prior company. After a long day working, the last thing I want to do is to share a room with another person, regardless of how well we might get along. Like some of the other writers, I am modest and not comfortable sharing a room with anyone other than my husband or children--including my adult siblings. I also have a medical condition--IBS--that is not debilitating and for which I don't need specific accommodations, but is socially embarrassing. If I had to travel and the only way was to share a room, I would pay the difference myself for a private room.
Posted by: LMS at 8/12/2009 12:07 PM

I too am relieved that others disagree with this idea. Imagine being told that you are approved for training, with the caveat that you share a room with a colleague and that colleague has no objection to sharing a room. You don't want to share a room and now you are required to either do it or voice your objection and risk offending a colleague.
Corporate travel is not fun to begin with, adding this seems like punishment!
Posted by: Gael at 8/12/2009 12:08 PM

Work ends when we leave the conference or meeting and people need to be able to escape and relax without being near their coworkers. Even if the coworkers are friends, one still needs some privacy. The small cost associated with a hotel room is nothing compared to what business waste every day through standard inefficiency.
Posted by: Lance at 8/12/2009 12:08 PM

Traveling for business is not fun, it's business. If I can't sleep in my own bed at night, at least let me sleep in my own room. If I want to watch television or read into the wee hours of the morning, then I should be able to do so without thinking of how it would impact someone else and vice versa.

There are some business colleagues with whom I would be comfortable sharing a room, but others that I feel strongly I would NOT want to share a room. I don't feel it should be imposed on me.
Posted by: Naureen at 8/12/2009 12:14 PM

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer on this--only what is right for you. I would not share a room for many, if not all, of the same reasons stated in all of these posts. We put up some employees from time to time during really bad weather at a hotel within walking distance of our company. Yes, it would have been cheaper to ask them to share, but it may also have been a disaster. In our lawsuit crazy society, we decided it would be better not to take a chance that someone would claim someone did something inappropriate while sharing a room. So, we ate the cost of one room per person. Personally, I would pay to have my own room whether it was a business trip or one of those vacations that requires double occupancy. By the way, earplugs don't work when you sleep with a really loud snorer if you're a light sleeper. In that case, you simply don't sleep and end up getting a lot less out of the event. Lastly, I am a grown up and that's why I want my own room.
Posted by: Barb at 8/12/2009 12:15 PM

I completely disagree with this article. If my company demands that I attend, then they will pay for a private room or send someone else. This is not about being a grown up, this is about professionalism and putting people in violation of privacy situations you would never dream of allowing at any other time.
Posted by: Tamara at 8/12/2009 12:18 PM

I do not think it is appropriate to ask persons who travelling for work to share a room. We are only assuming the writer is referring to a room with two beds. Where do you draw the line? Is it alright to have company travellers stay at hostels? Most people who travel for their jobs are considered professional and should be treated as such. No room sharing.
Posted by: Barbara( Visit ) at 8/12/2009 12:19 PM

I too was very surprised by this article and it's tone. Whether one travels all the time for work (and therefore lives out of his/her suitcase) or is only rarely asked to travel, as I am, I think that the company should pay for employees to have their own room for all of the reasons others have posted above. This should at least be the case for mandatory travel - if I want to attend a seminar or conference that will also benefit me then at least give me the option to pay the difference between sharing a room and having my own. Valid points were made regarding medical conditions, personal habits, co-workers vs. friends, etc. As far as the "grow up" comments, I am a grown up, and therefore I think that my personal space should be respected, especially since I'm travelling on my company's behalf - which takes me away from my family. My accommodation is leaving my family for the necessary period of time in order to travel. Fortunately my company allows employees to have their own rooms when travelling together.
Posted by: Diane at 8/12/2009 12:20 PM

Unless we are talking about a long term assignment, are most people really so selfish they can not take another person's needs into account for a night or two? I'm sure even at home, unless one is a hermit with no social life, you occasionally need to adjust what you might prefer to do. Your spouse wants to read in bed while you want to watch TV or you have had a long day and just want to relax by yourself but the kids need you to help with a school project, etc.

For those who are diabetic or have medical issues, just take care of it in the bathroom or when your roommate is out of the room. It isn't prison wher you are locked in the room together all day and can not leave or step out.

Yes it might be nice to have your own room but honestly, when I've travelled for work, more often than not those of us attending sit up in one person's room and socialize or go to the lounge and unwind together. I don't know too many who leave the last session and lock themselves into their room for a night of solitude. Even if that is what you might want to do, is it really going to kill you to do otherwise for a night or two? Eventually you are going home and can resume whatever solitary activities you choose.
Posted by: Elle at 8/12/2009 12:32 PM

I am the kind of person that rejuvenates during my alone time. If I have to share a room, I don't get enough alone time and it starts to affect how I function and my personality. I have gone to training where I shared a room with our controller, who is a friend, but that was a case where we knew we were just lucky to be going to this user conference. I remember years ago going to Arthur Andersen's training facility in Illinois and sharing a dorm room with a person I didn't know. She wanted fresh air in our room, so she opened the window. It was July. When I came in from class there were about a thousand mosquitoes in our room. Thankfully the majority of them came to rest/die on her bed. But eeeew!
Posted by: Sharron at 8/12/2009 12:40 PM

I figure if my company is going to require I travel for them, the least they can do is put me up in my own room, which they always do. Plus, there's just too much liability room for possible harassment claims if employees share rooms. It's a normal cost of doing business.
Posted by: NT at 8/12/2009 1:03 PM

Frankly, I think that it is way beyond normal business (not to mention reasonableness) to force two people to share such intimacies as a bedroom and a bathroom. Further, to imply that they need to "grow up" demonstrates a childlike response to what should be a professional conversation. If two people are willing, great, let them share a room. If they "raise heck" (aka, their VALID concerns) then the company should comply. Business travel is about getting key people to the place that the company needs them to be in order to further business needs. This benefits the company. Telling an employee that they must be in intimate space with someone without their consent is not professional. In fact, it invites problems and puts the company at risk for crossing the line into a person's personal life. Unacceptable.
Posted by: JB at 8/12/2009 1:20 PM

The article starts out with the statement that the out-of-town business conference is one that "a bunch of employees would like to attend." To me, that makes the difference between whether I would consent to share a room or not. If I really wanted to attend and the company was willing to pay for it, then yes, I would share. (I'd sleep in t-shirt and sweat pants, but I would share.) If, however, my attendance was mandatory, not voluntary, I would definitely expect a private room. Or, if the company insisted I share in this instance, I would expect the company to pay me for the full 24 hours per day, since my being "off work" would not be possible if I were sharing a room with a colleague.
And, Elle, the answer to your question, "Are most people really so selfish that they cannot take another person's needs into account for a night or two?" is an emphatic "Yes! And I usually get stuck rooming with them!"
Posted by: LynS at 8/12/2009 1:27 PM

In reading previous comments, I am led to believe that the writers' opinion is probably not directed at special circumstances such as medical disabilities, etc. its obvious (hopefully) that certains provisions should be made for these persons. im sure the writer was referring to your normal everyday circumstances. As operations officer with my company, we attempt to accomodate as much as possible if the resources are available. While we understand that traveling for work is already something that employees feel is taking of their time, please understand that it is also part of the job description in most cases. In a perfect world, everyone would have private rooms because unbelieveably enough, most companies actually take pride in the fact that they are able to take care of their employees properly. Unfortunatey, sometimes it is impossible to facilitate certain accomodations yet business must still be conducted and as such decisions such as sharing a room must be made. While some of you find business travel not fun, I have employees who actually like to travel for business and the fun they have is reflected in the credit card statements! For companies, at least those of good intention, it becomes a cant win situation... yet business must go on.
Posted by: Rebecca at 8/12/2009 1:58 PM

I am one of the lucky people that has not had to travel for work. My spouse on the other had has for many years. He always has to share a room and he usually gets stuck with one of the smokers or drinkers. Can I just tell you unthoughtful some people can be? He has had people that go out drinking and come in at 2 am running into everything and flipping on lights and then "Oh, sorry. You were sleeping?" or staying awake til 2 or 3am watching TV (sound up really loud). On top of the fact that he is a very quiet person that likes quiet. He always comes home so tired he falls asleep in the chair while telling us about the trip. And then there is always the heat and a/c issues.
Posted by: Tracy at 8/12/2009 2:10 PM

Are we really dwelling on extreme cases (medical conditions, allergies, rude roommates, etc) for what was a general question about sharing rooms?

Obviously, if there are extenuating circumstances they should be taken into consideration on a case by case basis. (But don't be surprised if everyone comes down with a medical condition to get a private room).

For those ultra private/sensitive people...it just may mean an added personal expense or maybe a job change that doesn't include frequent travel? Or maybe the company makes a decision that those who sacrifice personal time for business travel are worth the added expense of a private room and will find other ways to control costs.
Posted by: Wendy at 8/12/2009 4:09 PM

I disagree with most the comments people have made about this article and it's tone. The economy has taken a huge toll on the finacial status of a lot of businesses across this nation. It seems to me most people writing these comments do not understand the cost associated when sending their employees on business trips. Between reguar pay, airfare, hotel, food, car rental, insurance, and not to metion the usual $1-5K is costs for the actual seminar or class per person, you're looking at thousands of dollars in travel for one person. Over the course of a year that's a lot of money. I would rather share a room with a co-worker and possibly learn something new about that person, and develop a better working relationship than lose my job because of cut backs. Most companies do understand the need for personal time when traveling and I think what the author of this article is trying to relay is not intended as a permanent solution to traveling on business, but as another way to help companies bottom line. In addition, if you know what your job entails going into the position, you should not complain about traveling for business. With that said, for those who do have medical conditions and it does not hinder traveling, companies should offer other solutions to accomodate your condition.
Posted by: Heather at 8/12/2009 5:28 PM

Mandatory travel and travel I want to do are two different things. If I have a choice, and can decline the travel without negative impact on my position with the company, then they can set whatever rules they want. If I don't like them, I don't have to participate.
If my company insisted on room sharing, I would have a hard time with that. If the company would allow me to pay the difference, I would "buy up" to a single room.
No person should have to go to their employer and share details of their personal lives or medical histories in order to maintain their modesty or privacy. So getting a "medical exception" is entirely counter to respecting a persons dignity and privacy.
Posted by: Goldie at 8/12/2009 7:22 PM

I've not worked for a company that required room-sharing and I have never had to. I also do not have a job that requires me to travel regularly (2-4 times a year is more like it). I would pay to upgrade to a personal room or I would not attend, period. Yes, it is expensive (and I know from having been at director level), but replacing an employee is more expensive...
Posted by: Vickie at 8/12/2009 8:49 PM

The bigger issue is when companies insist that women share, but not the men. Where I work, employees will decide amongst themselves if they want to share the expense of a room; otherwise, the budget is limited but takes into account individual hotel accommodations.
Posted by: Kay at 8/13/2009 11:20 AM

This is ridiculous. So, writer of this blog, would you like to share a room with me when I bring my 6 month old baby girl because I still breastfeed?
Posted by: Becky at 8/13/2009 5:59 PM

I want to believe if business trip is worth the money, my convinience and privacy as employee should not be traded off. Pairing employees together on business trip even takes away from the coporate credibilty of the organization irrespective of the cost cutting. No!!!
Posted by: Demola at 8/14/2009 7:38 AM

If someone does jump your bones; can you hold your employer liable for putting you in the situation?
Posted by: Kevin at 8/15/2009 3:38 PM

I'm a shy person by nature, and have several medical conditions that I do not wish to share, and shouldn't have to. The lack of privacy and the stress that sharing a room with another person on business would hinder my ability to function. If my employer suggested a sharing arrangement I would ask for a separate room which I would pay for.

And yes, I'm well aware of what it costs to send employees out of town. I work in the accounting department!
Posted by: Lynne at 8/17/2009 6:34 PM

As Consultant I have answered this question many times and always come up with the same answer. Ask the persons travelling, be honest, if they prefer to be rooming alone, then downgrade the accommodation (if you're in econo mode) and send them. Going and learning and applying what they have learned will far offset the cost of a room. I also found that in most cases some people were more than happy to stay in the same room. Compromise and do not make it an issue.
Posted by: Christine( Visit ) at 8/18/2009 11:37 AM

Just asked some of my clients what they have done in this regard lately. Their attitude is that if 2 people go they would prefer to send them separately (unless they are friends and request sharing) because of potential conflicts and eventual breach of confidentiality of information they know.
What I would like to hear from people is this: Is it easier to have women share rooms than men? It seems that men don't have get asked to share rooms.
Posted by: Christine( Visit ) at 8/18/2009 11:49 AM

To reply to Heather's post, I do understand the total cost of traveling because I am the CFO of this nonprofit organization. I still feel that putting up our employees in separate rooms is the right thing to do. It avoids a lot of potential problems, from minor problems to serious ones like losing good employees or even lawsuits. We pay for average accomodations, not luxury hotels. Cheaper acomodations may be in unsafe locations or may involve extra costs, such as having to rent a car to get to the meeting or conference. Granted, only our Executive Director travels a lot. The rest of us go to meetings or seminars a few times a year.
We are controlling costs by restricting travel to the most important conferences and seminars, and cutting down on the number of employees we send to each event. Fortunately most of our employees are devoted to our mission of helping low-income people and do want to help the company control costs.
Posted by: Maura at 8/26/2009 3:55 PM

A hot topic and one I also feel strongly about. For the people who cite the economy as a reason employees should expect to share a room, I say travel costs are part of doing business, and if a company needs to scale back, they should scale back the length or duration of trips and find other ways to get business done (teleconferencing, etc. Employees don't need to stay in first class hotels, but should be able to expect a clean room in a safe environment and some privacy. If employees offer to share a room, I think it's up to them to do so but this should not be an expectation. I have had both positive and very negative experiences sharing a room - positive when it was my choice and the person I shared a room with was also a friend. Early in my career I was forced to share a room with a total stranger (conference participant). She was rude, noisy, and took total control of the room--phone, television, bathroom, and desk area. That was more than 20 years ago. I don't remember the conference, but I remember that bad roommate.
Posted by: Lin at 9/2/2009 10:29 AM

This article is written entirely from the perspective of an HR manager, complete with tough answers for common objections. Her point is that employees serve the company and they need to obey. A common misconception in HR management. Maybe true for entry-level workers, but employing professionals is much more a symbiotic relationship. If you're worth your salt, they need you as much as you need them. That's the beauty of capitalism :-).

My company asks me for my preference and respects it (some of our team prefers to stay together, which is fine). If my management chose this as a hill to die on, I would consider walking.

It is clear that, to the writer, cost is a concern than tumps the sense of well-being of the employee. As such, it is a poor reflection on her company. I am also shocked at the naivete - clearly her company has yet to walk through a sexual harassment lawsuit. The first one filed will change the policy.

As for the "poor employer, times are tough and we all have to chip in to save" argument, I don't buy it. If my travel didn't MAKE money for the company in some way, they wouln't send me (even if it is an intangible like increased field knowledge). Trust me, no for-profit company sends workers on trips that don't benefit them financially. And frankly, I'd rather stay home.

The reality is that the basic dignity afforded to an employee by at least OFFERING a private room tells you a lot about your company and their feelings about you. If you are not worth the extra money per night for privacy, dignity, and rest, look for a company who needs you more. If you can't find one, increase your education and skillset until you do.

If you work for the writer of this article or someone like her, consider a new career.
Posted by: Jon at 9/16/2009 3:52 PM

I have two questions. 1) is it even LEGAL to require employees to share accommodations during company-mandated business travel, and 2) would it be considered discriminatory for one group to be required to bunk together (comprised mostly of women) and other groups (mixed men/women) to be given private rooms?
Posted by: Jean at 10/2/2009 2:23 PM

Your view of sharing a room, in my opinion, is the view of an owner who is trying to defend their unreasonable request/demand for employees sharing a room.
In my contrary view, employees should never be asked to share a room with a coworker, not under any circumstances including saving money during tough economic times. While I'm not certain it's a legal issue - although I can certainly conjure up harassment scenarios - it is a respect issue.
Let's face it. If you respect your employees, your employees should not have to listen to a coworker snore, smell their stinky socks, work around their toiletries in the bathroom, share the soap in the shower, or put up with their late night work habits.
An employee who is giving up hours of his or her free time, and spending time away from the family for a business purpose, should have a private room to retire to for breaks and in the evening. The employee should be able to call home without an audience, drink a few cocktails without a disapproving observer, work until the wee hours of the morning, or call it an early night without worrying about the needs of a coworker.
Employees who have just spent breakfast, lunch, and dinner together plus attended all day meetings with fellow employees, deserve a place for solitude and rejuvenation. Sharing a room is not a team building event and it may result in damaged work relationships even if both of the employees are respectful and mindful of adult behavior.
Business travel is stressful enough, and your employees are already voluntarily giving you hours of their time, without adding one more layer of potential stress and offensiveness. Give your employees the respect they deserve. Unless good friends ask to room together, employees should never be asked to share rooms.
Posted by: Mark at 12/17/2009 4:24 PM

I've read the previous posts and agree the most with Jon.

I traveled with sports teams in high school. Heck, we shared beds then. The coaches shared rooms but not beds.

I've traveled while employeed with a few different companies and have had my share of good and bad experiences. If you share common interests it can be a good, team-building experience. The commraderie can be from hitting the lounge after the conference to discussing the conference topic. Or, a negative, discussing what they hate about the company (like travel arrangements).

You should be asked by the travel coordinator if you're comfortable sharing. Otherwise, like John said, you're benefiting from this as much or more than I, pony up.
Posted by: Darren at 12/18/2009 3:20 PM

This article is written by a complete idiot with no regard or respect for human beings. The only time you should be forced to share a room with a stranger is in prison - where it would clearly be part of the punishment.

Employers need to show respect and appreciation for their employees especially if they are forced to give up their normal life to travel for the benefit of the company.

The list of negative variables which can occur in such an arrangement is infinite and the only positive being the greedy, inhumane employer saving a few dollars so they can leave it to their kin when they pass.

Obviously the author cares nothing for the feelings, needs, or well being of human beings and therefore should not be considered one.
Posted by: Startled at 3/6/2010 5:55 PM

The author is a moron.

>>>attendees spend precious little time in the actual hotel room; it really is just a place for sleeping at night and getting ready in the morning, not the sanctuary<<<

Its a friggin bedroom, WTF else would qualify as a "santuary" if not that?

>>>attendees spend precious little time in the actual hotel room<<<

What Eileen Mager sleeps two hours a night and is in the room for maybe three? That's were MOST of the time is spent. What an idiot.

>>>I tended to worry less about what they'll think of my personal quirks and foibles, what they'll tell everyone about our time together back at the office<<<

So this not so private situation is riddled with private situations that can get you talked about maybe not with some co-workers but also by complete strangers. Oh joy!

Something is seriously wrong with this person.
Posted by: Chaos at 6/15/2010 9:51 PM

Any monetary gains made by sharing rooms are lost in productivity and attitude, and more.

I don't want to share a room with someone, and it is not YOUR business or HR's business as to why. It is an invasion of personal privacy.

I would also think that it invites completely unnecessary liability on the company, since you are being forced to share a room, that time in the room is not your time, it is the companies. The possibilities of what *could* happen, and the liabilities...
Posted by: You Must Be Joking! at 10/11/2010 4:51 PM

I am so unhappy and distressed about having to share a room for an upcoming required sales conference that I can't sleep and I'm VERY unproductive at work.
Posted by: Lauren at 12/15/2010 11:49 AM

I disagree and I have shared rooms with co-workers (including those I don't know (work in different locations)) many times.
1 - If the business can't afford private rooms, don't travel. No employee should have to chip in for something they would have got at home for free.
2 - Homosexuality is an issue. People should not have to share a room with someone they don't feel comfortable with. People do rape people. Saying "No one is going to jump your bones" is irresponsible.
3 - It's discriminating. If different sex employees get separate rooms, so should mixed (homo/hedero) employees for the same reasons.
4 - If it's not a 24 hour job, there should be down-time.
I could go on.
Posted by: Bubby at 1/3/2011 2:12 AM

The key word in your article is "would like to attend." I am being forced to go to a training on a new computer software program our company is purchasing. I have no problem with going for the training, and look forward to learning new things. The problem is that I am going with my boss, and he has decreed that we will be sharing a Comfort Inn room together. No privacy at all, and I'm with him 24/7. No per diem for meals - I have to eat with him if I want to eat. That leaves me absolutely no time to "escape" to the privacy of my own space for a full week. I have sleep apnea as well, and sleep with a machine. When I mentioned this, he literally said, "When my head hits the pillow, I'll be out anyhow." Another problem - my boss gets up around 4AM every single day. I always stay up until 12 or 1AM. How is this going to work? My sleep schedule will make it so that I will be working on little sleep while he will have no problems at all. I do not have a choice in this matter - it's not a "conference" that I "would like to" attend - it's required. Single rooms should DEFINITELY be required in this case...
Posted by: Oregon Guy at 2/13/2011 11:33 AM

I have had to sleep with a sleep apnea snorer for five nights on my first conference for a trip. It was detrimental to my physical and mental health as well as my performance because staying awake in all-day seminars on less than two hours of sleep is all but impossible. I consider sleep deprivation a serious health issue and not a "comfort" issue.

I'm also not understanding why it's okay to make people stay with people of different sexual orientation but same gender is different than different gender. Either we are concerned about modesty or privacy or we aren't. It's a can of worms.
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Personally I dont like it.
One of my friends had to share a room with a coworker once. The coworker was not shy with his nudity because my friend said the coworker would undress in front of him and leave the bathroom door open, sleep nude, etc. My friend didnt mind too much and said he did the same in front of him. Both had separate beds and neither were gay so it didnt real matter. It was about 6 months later when the coworker was no longer with the company, but still had contact with some of the employees, that nude pictures of my friend made the rounds at the office. The pictures were of the time sharing the room. This is a warning that you never know what intentions the person you are sharing the room with may have in mind.
Posted by: Gord at 10/2/2011 3:30 PM

Forgot to add that my friend believes that the coworker deliberately went nude in front of him to entice him to be nude too and be comfortable to be nude in front of him.
Posted by: Gord at 10/2/2011 3:33 PM

I did not read all the responses. But what about the potential discovery of embarrassing medications and the privacy that HIPAA requires, etc. I think that there are liability issues that wouldbcostbmore than hotel rooms...
Posted by: Hedgie at 11/17/2011 5:16 PM

I am a boss, and I don't require staff members to share a room, but they know at this non-profit, funds are tight. They come to me offering to share rooms to save money so more people have the opportunity to attend conferences.
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Posted by: at 12/16/2011 10:36 PM

Requiring employees to share a room is just plain disrespectful. No one should be required to share someone else's bad habits, smells, or inconsiderate behaviour. More to the point - after working all day to have to lose what little time you have to decompress and have some private time is unacceptable. What about people who are light sleepers. Or women who need lots of time to get ready in the morning. Or someone with a medical condition. Or someone like me who lives alone and many years ago when I shared a two bedroom two bath condo with a friend who left a door unlocked I awoke to a strange man at the foot of my bed. Who after screaming ran out. I sleep very lightly now and simply cannot sleep with someone else in the room. What about how ineffective people are with less sleep. Does anyone really think that people will get as much sleep or the sleep they need to be effective when sharing a room with someone else? To me this is a deal breaker with a company as it shows a total lack of respect. Fine if the employees want to share but no one should be forced or made to feel like an outsider or worse yet fired if they don't.
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Posted by: at 1/16/2012 11:22 AM

I have a MANDATORY conference in the next two weeks. My employer, a dentist, reserved TWO rooms for 5 women, most over 40. No choice. Plus, he tells us we cannot check luggage.... Am I suppose to go 4 days without basic hygiene materials?
Totally unacceptable. Cheap and disrespectful. Not to mention stupid. I'm NEVER going to advance his practice or do one simple thing to improve his precious practice. You disrespect me; I'm going to disrespect you. He's wasted his money and alienated the staff. Hope the measly $139 a night was with worth literally thousands if dollars in lost income. STUPID, CHEAP, DISRESPECTFUL. He's going to get what he deserves...
Posted by: Sickandtired at 2/20/2012 6:49 AM

Won't comment on the other thought but for me it is a sanitation issue. I don't expect to share shower / bathroom facilities with a co-worker for a period ranging from two weeks to 6 weeks at a time. I served my time in the military but that was an entirely different environment with practical reasons having nothing to do with expense. As a professional exempt employee I don't believe that any company should require their employees to share living accommodations with another employee. Do they have athletes foot, herpes, etc.? Slippery slope.
Posted by: Sanitary at 3/9/2012 4:07 PM

After a day of travel hassles, conferences, workshops, round tables, seminars, networking, receptions, dinner, speakers, introductions, social pleasantries, and all the other things that go into attending an off-site professional event there is absolutely no way on this green Earth that I will share a hotel room with a co-workers. Absolutely. None. Never going to happen. I need my downtime. My “me” time. My veg time. My time to make personal calls. Heck my time to watch a naughty movie and play with myself if that’s how I like to unwind. I cannot be productive the next day without these things. It IS a big deal.
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Posted by: at 9/23/2012 10:58 PM

What's next, sharing beds?
Employers that even ask us to share are totally disrespecting the employees. It is the employers who need to grow up. This isn't your junior high summer camp, it is a business. Running it like one includes basic respect for your employees.
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What is right for the brand of your age? Pei Pei: I loved to doodle something more,
Posted by: Louis Vuitton Handbags( Visit ) at 12/5/2012 1:52 AM

I would not feel comfortable sharing a room with someone from esp a person that I either am not familiar with or someone who I may be familiar with. It is a basic requirement in my opinion to have separate rooms. If the company can afford for you to travel out of town then they can afford to put you up in an econo lodge or motel 6 for the night. If the company is that bad off financially, then the organization needs to do some serious scrutinizing of their overall operations. Thank you.
Posted by: Lee at 12/5/2012 2:24 PM

I don't travel for sheer fun, but to serve the company and to serve it well. I expect that privacy is respected. What I experienced once was that the hotel I selected (with extreme budget conciseness, as what I wouldn’t book paid by myself, I sure wouldn’t book on company expense) was overruled by the CEO, who wanted everyone to be in one and the same hotel; the one he had selected. The result was that I had to share a room that was more than five times the price of the room in the Hotel I had selected (both were fine hotels, though the CEO selected one was one-star higher up the hotel hierarchy). The effect was that the whole hotel stay was way more than double the price with no time or opportunity for people to retreat in their own privacy. Please note that this was not a one-night stay, but a full week locked-up with a co-worker.

I have stayed in all kind of hotels around the world, though I stick to my statement that I rather scale-down the hotel type than to bunk-up with a co-worker. I have stayed in pretty basic Japanese business hotels with a breakfast coming out of a vending machine. But the comfort of your ‘own shower’, ‘private toilet’, the freedom to fart-away in ‘your own bed’ at free will, because not all the world’s food is compatible with everyone digestive system.

Therefore, when a company would prescribe me to bunk-up, with a co-worker, my reply if “Fuck you”! If it is of any importance to move me around, do so respecting my minimum requirements of privacy. I don’t expect any luxury at all, so move away from the prestigious hotels if you cannot, or are not willing to pay for them a book me whatever room that is clean and has the in-room basic sanitary facilities.

Anyone who has a different opinion is either a plain idiot, or has little to no value add to whatever company fearing his position to do so. Only under virtual-unavoidable exceptions, such as last minute arrangements of one or two night business trips facing booking difficulties, I could and also would make no fuzz about it. But as a policy it is fully out of the question.
Posted by: ip-detective at 12/16/2012 5:08 PM

It's a bit of a delay in adding this, but I have been asked twice (two different companies) to share a hotel room in an effort to save costs. Each time, it was another employee and myself attending the conference. Here's where it gets dicey, in both cases my colleague was a female. Now the moment has passed in both cases, but for future situations out there, what would have been an appropriate response?
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Insane article. An absolute assinine defense of an assinine practice. Asking employees to share rooms in good economic times or bad is ridiculous. I'm being told that I have to go to a conference in Vegas for SIX DAYS. I have been assigned a roommate. He is 32, single, no kids. I am 47 married with two kids.

Not going to happen.....GROW UP???? The company needs to grow up. If you can't afford the band don't ask me to the dance. You catch my drift?
Posted by: Bill at 3/7/2013 10:46 PM

Thank God the writer of this article doesn't work in my HR department.

Completely unsympathetic "suck it up" attitude.
Posted by: Patrick Martin at 4/12/2013 12:10 PM

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What's The Big Deal About Sharing A Room?