Room sharing on business trip - options when I dont want to??

Craighoy

Hi - my company is having a big sales event overseas. For the first time it has decided that all employees will need to share a hotel room with a colleague - this is being mandated unless there is a valid reason.
Frankly - I don't want to share and I'm not prepared to. I like my privacy and to escape from the bustle and I don't feel comfortable when someone I don't really know well is in the same room.
However the company is saying no exceptions and mandating attendance from a Sunday night through to the Wednesday morning.
Anyway - I'd rather not go than share.
Can my company insist I go and share when this is something I don't want to do? Are they legally allowed to dictate that I sleep in the same room as someone else?
Thanks in advance

Comms69

Well yes is the short answer unless you pay for your own room; a compromise might be you pay the difference in rate

engineer_amy

are there an even number of employees? (or an even number of males?) If its an odd number, its likely that the last male would have a single room - you could request nicely that you be the "odd man out" with the single room. Failing that, you would probably have to pay any additional costs for an extra room.

spadoosh

Craighoy doesnt share ....rooms.

I wouldnt worry about it, i get the impression there wont be many takers when the bed in your room is put up for grabs.

pinkshoes

Tell them you are bisexual and sex crazed, sleep walk and act out things in your sleep which you have no control over.

Or you suffer chronic wind at night so anyone sharing a room will need breathing apparatus?

Or you snore so loudly window panes rattle?

I'm with you on this one. Pinkshoes doesn't share rooms either. Except with Mr Pinkshoes obviously. I am a very light sleeper and suffer from insomnia so will NOT share with others.

On a school trip once I slept in my car!!!! The snoring from the overweight deputy head was unbelievable!!

ReadingTim

Given this has the potential to be an HR minefield, I can't imagine the company is doing this for a laugh or just because they can - costs are clearly being looked at, and the budget is tight. In that kind of environment, you might wish to consider the wisdom of making too much of an issue of this.

If refusing to go is not an option, then volunteering to pay for your own room might be the best compromise, as there's nothing in "the law" to force them to provide you with your own room - and depending on drop outs, and numbers of men and women, you might end up in a spare room by yourself anyway.

So, your call; but pick your battles carefully....

Craighoy

I am currently saying that I am not prepared to go - actually for many of the reasons listed by pinkshoes - Light sleeper but big snorer - not fair on the other person and not fair on me.
Costs are being watched theres probably 500-600 people so the chances of getting the spare room is remote. Its also in a very expensive location so covering the full room will cost - lots!
Happy not to go frankly - but its whether the company insists....

Undervalued

ReadingTim wrote: »

Given this has the potential to be an HR minefield, I can't imagine the company is doing this for a laugh or just because they can - costs are clearly being looked at, and the budget is tight. In that kind of environment, you might wish to consider the wisdom of making too much of an issue of this.

Quite.

In some organisations it seems to be the expected norm that staff share rooms whereas others wouldn't entertain the idea.

As far as I know there aren't any obvious legal restrictions or requirements. Even if there were, as Tim says, it may not be wise to insist on them.

I certainly understand the concern and I would be annoyed to be put in the same position. I would suggest you make your concerns know and maybe offer to pay the difference.

System

This has happened to me before. I put my foot down and I said I won't be going if I had to share again. We made a profit of these overnighters too, which made it even more galling. Can you travel everyday?

TBagpuss

While I have a lot of sympathy for you, (I would not like to have to share with a colleague, either) I don't think there is anything illegal.

It might be worth doing a bit of research about the location - if you can find (say) a cheap B&B or motel near to the venue you might be able to offer to pay for that (or for the difference between that and 50% of a hotel room)
Do you know if others are unhappy about this? Pushing back as a group might be more effective.
you could ask whether the snoring would be a valid reason, as that will disturb your room mate

Craighoy

Looking at alternative accommodation - shared apartment with other unhappy people, but not room - but its very pricey and frankly I dont want to pay it. Cant travel every day - its in Monaco.