Sharing room on a work trip

HandsFaceTeeth · 2026-05-30T18:38:24+00:00

I’m going on a work trip that involves an overnight stay. On the original request form, I said I did not want to share a room and would happily pay the difference to have my own room. A recent email said that attendees would be sharing twin rooms in the hotel. I do not know anyone else attending. AIBU to not want to share a room with a stranger? I don’t even share a room when I go away with good friends!

StarlightLady · 01/06/2026 09:40

HandsFaceTeeth · 01/06/2026 06:52

Update - my company have agreed to me having a single room. They usually ask for a doctor’s note, they said, but on this occasion, as the training course has been arranged at short notice, they will let it go.
I spoke to several colleagues today. Without giving the actual company names, we work for different beauty/perfume brands within a large store. Every single person I spoke to has shared a room with a
a colleague on training courses or conferences. It’s clearly the norm in the perfume and beauty industry and I’m astonished that everyone just accepts this.

OP, l’m pleased you have resolved this on this occasion.

But doctors note???? Doctors are medics. Wanting your own room is not a medical condition. It is a right to privacy.

StarlightLady · 01/06/2026 09:36

Mcdhotchoc · 30/05/2026 19:40

That is a hill I would be prepared to die on. I wouldn't even have offered to pay the difference.
Your employers are proper bonkers. Safeguarding at an absolute minimum

This.

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 01/06/2026 09:26

BiddyPopthe2nd · 30/05/2026 19:52

No - we never, EVER, share rooms on work trips. You have a right to private time even on a work trip, and for colleagues not to become aware of medical issues, embarrassing snoring, bodily dignity, deal with the phone calls from home etc. It is very very poor treatment of employees to expect them to share in a professional setting.

Exactly this. It’s about dignity and privacy. I work for a charity and we don’t share rooms even though on a tight budget.

fashionqueen0123 · 01/06/2026 09:24

a drs note? wtf

PurpleDisco · 01/06/2026 09:17

@HandsFaceTeeth sorry the company usually asks for a doctors note if someone wants a room to themselves? What would the doctors note say? This is bizarre in 2026 …

LlynTegid · 01/06/2026 08:10

No is a complete sentence in this case.

I hope you can persuade other colleagues to say the same.

FlowerSticker · 01/06/2026 07:42

Soporalt · 31/05/2026 23:56

What? Who?

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Wrong poster, sorry 🤦

LanyardSpaghetti · 01/06/2026 07:16

It's good that you've got your room. I absolutely would not share a room on business travel. If work need me to be somewhere overnight other than where I would choose to be, they pay for a decent quality hotel room with breakfast in a safe area, and a nutritious evening meal. I think that's a reasonable minimum expectation.

8misskitty8 · 01/06/2026 07:12

HandsFaceTeeth · 01/06/2026 06:52

Update - my company have agreed to me having a single room. They usually ask for a doctor’s note, they said, but on this occasion, as the training course has been arranged at short notice, they will let it go.
I spoke to several colleagues today. Without giving the actual company names, we work for different beauty/perfume brands within a large store. Every single person I spoke to has shared a room with a
a colleague on training courses or conferences. It’s clearly the norm in the perfume and beauty industry and I’m astonished that everyone just accepts this.

A doctors note !? No doctor would give you one for that.
Your company is being ridiculous. You are entitled to privacy. The evenings are not part of your work time.

Original poster

HandsFaceTeeth · 01/06/2026 06:52

Update - my company have agreed to me having a single room. They usually ask for a doctor’s note, they said, but on this occasion, as the training course has been arranged at short notice, they will let it go.
I spoke to several colleagues today. Without giving the actual company names, we work for different beauty/perfume brands within a large store. Every single person I spoke to has shared a room with a
a colleague on training courses or conferences. It’s clearly the norm in the perfume and beauty industry and I’m astonished that everyone just accepts this.

OP posts:

Soporalt · 31/05/2026 23:56

FlowerSticker · 31/05/2026 17:18

So... What's the entitled teenager comment about?

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What? Who?

FlowerSticker · 31/05/2026 17:18

Soporalt · 31/05/2026 17:06

Absolutely not. Ever. Years ago a senior colleague told me about attending a conference in the USA. He was very surprised when a strange American man appeared in his room and was apparently sharing. He explained it’s normal on work events in the US. Weird!

So... What's the entitled teenager comment about?

Soporalt · 31/05/2026 17:06

Absolutely not. Ever. Years ago a senior colleague told me about attending a conference in the USA. He was very surprised when a strange American man appeared in his room and was apparently sharing. He explained it’s normal on work events in the US. Weird!

FlowerSticker · 31/05/2026 16:26

shuggles · 31/05/2026 00:54

Demanding a single room smacks of being a teenager, rather than a professional adult.

You sound like someone who has never done a job which doesn't involve sitting at a desk.

Edited

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😂😂😂😂

Are you just jealous or something and kicking yourself that you never thought to request your own room , so now you're throwing insults at people in an attempt to make yourself feel better about yourself???

Ponderingwindow · 31/05/2026 15:01

I have medical reasons for insisting on a private room. Absolutely no way I would share.

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 31/05/2026 14:59

shuggles · 31/05/2026 14:55

Incorrect.

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Whatever you say champ

shuggles · 31/05/2026 14:55

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 31/05/2026 14:55

You sound like someone who has never had a professional career.

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Incorrect.

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 31/05/2026 14:55

shuggles · 31/05/2026 00:54

Demanding a single room smacks of being a teenager, rather than a professional adult.

You sound like someone who has never done a job which doesn't involve sitting at a desk.

Edited

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You sound like someone who has never had a professional career.

BiddyPopthe2nd · 31/05/2026 13:42

shuggles · 31/05/2026 00:54

Demanding a single room smacks of being a teenager, rather than a professional adult.

You sound like someone who has never done a job which doesn't involve sitting at a desk.

Edited

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I have done plenty of jobs which didn’t involve sitting behind a desk. I also go on trips as a leader of a youth organisation voluntarily - as generally the only woman, I get a room to myself but have had to share with a mum on occasion and have had to do a tent outside when we could only have 1 room for adults (I couldn’t take 4 beds for myself and send the 3 men outside, for fairness) when we are hostelling. But we all bring our own tents for when we camp, and scrounge up another if we have any extra parents along with us. But I do that voluntarily with a group of leaders I know very well. And we have shared our various issues over the years.

But with work colleagues, where it is a totally different relationship, you are entitled to private time and personal privacy. It is about reasonable boundaries, and maintaining professionalism - but people need a chance to decompress and be their own person and not always be “on duty” in front of colleagues.

linelgreen · 31/05/2026 13:01

Work trip should provide sole accommodation and if they refuse this then contact HR with the information that you will not be attending. I used to work for a large company and after I did this I always got my own room much to the annoyance of those who were to timid to speak up!

Jasmin71 · 31/05/2026 12:53

Find out the hotel book your own room and put it on expenses. Another vote for a hill I would die on

Tocyprusornot · 31/05/2026 12:46

Hard no.

Loulou4022 · 31/05/2026 10:59

Loulou4022 · 30/05/2026 19:55

Nope! I can count on 3 fingers the number of people I’d be willing to share a room with and non of them are work colleagues! For the record it’s my husband, mum and cousin/ bestie!!

Also need to add I absolutely adore my work colleges! We are the 3 musketeers! But I still wouldn’t want to share a room with them!

StrictlyCoffee · 31/05/2026 09:37

shuggles · 31/05/2026 00:54

Demanding a single room smacks of being a teenager, rather than a professional adult.

You sound like someone who has never done a job which doesn't involve sitting at a desk.

Edited

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Nonsense.. it smacks of being a professional with boundaries you expect to be upheld.

whiteroseredrose · 31/05/2026 09:29

Hard no from me too. I fart, snore and talk in my sleep* and am not prepared to compromise my privacy.

*This doesn’t have to be true but is a good reason not to share. Though to be honest, privacy and dignity alone is enough.