AIBU - upgrading room on company paid trip?

[AIACF]

I have some time in a hotel coming up which work will pay for. AIBU to ask the hotel to allow me to pay a separate fee to upgrade the room so my husband and kids can come and we can spend evenings together? I'm not sure what company policy is and don't want to raise it as it probably seems grabby!?

Is it the done thing or not?

How long are you going for? There’s nothing to stop you just booking another room for your dh and kids - no need to necessarily tell them. It all depends on your workplace culture though

Can you just book them a separate room?

What's the work trip like, are you with colleagues?

If other colleagues are going then absolutely not

I've worked at companies that wouldn't have allowed this. You should ask and find out what your company policy is.

Nothing in any company policy to stop them from booking another room at the same time though!

Booking another room is obviously more expensive for OP? Presumably you’d need a family room rather than double, I’d be upfront about it ( and obviously paying the difference in price) - unless they are likely to interfere with your work then there shouldn’t be an issue? I take DP, slightly different as no change of room, but just pay for his breakfast. Company policy allows this.

Dh used to book a family room in a cheaper hotel chain in those circumstances. Employer was billed the same but we could stay.

I don't think it'd be looked on too favourably, you don't bring your family to work with you

If your other colleagues are going I wouldn’t do this

Are you the only person staying in this hotel or will there be other colleagues/event delegates?

I’ve done this for conferences if they were in desirable places, and my employer was ok with it. DP would sightsee during the day when I was at the conference and we’d have dinner together. Normally we would bolt on some extra days that I would take as annual leave to have together.

I don’t know your company’s policy but it would seem an odd thing to do.

Would there not be a need to get together with colleagues in the evening, maybe pick up some work around whatever you are doing, or even just make sure you are rested for the next day? Being in a hotel room with children doesn’t normally put you in the best frame of mind, and best physical state (ie you’d be tired) for being fully present for work the next day.

Just a spouse might be ok but I think bringing children is odd

Am I the only one who would rather enjoy a nice break away alone?
Assuming you see your DH and children every night usually.

Booking another room is obviously more expensive for OP?

Well if she wants her family to stay of course they should pay for it. This upgrading a company stay to include family is bizarre

If you want to be on unassailable grounds, get your husband to book his own room.

We've done it a few times without any issues, even once for an industry conference. DC and I do our own thing during the day and then provided there's no work dinner we see DH in the evening. We just pay the difference and make sure to pay our own breakfasts etc

I don't see anything odd about it.

Presumably OP doesn't work 24 hours a day and is entitled to spend her time off work however she wants. If she is in say, Edinburgh, and her husband and kids have never been, what different does it make to her company if her husband and kids are out sight seeing during the day while OP is working?
The company are paying the same amount out and getting the right amount back from OP (in terms of work commitments) unless they are also paying OP overtime to work round the clock?

No other colleagues will be there and it's just two nights. Family room proffered as young children. I can book the hotel through a partners site and I can book a fanily room at same cost as a double in one hotel which may be an option.

There's an event on the last night I would love us to all go to when my work is over.

I actually only did this very recently, brought my Mum, we had a lovely dinner out that evening. Contacted the hotel after the initial booking was made by work and asked them to upgrade and I'd pay on arrival. I didn't mention it at work because it was a last minute thing (2 days prior) No problem and we had a lovely night.

I'm salaried, happy to do these occasional overnights. Evenings are my own.

Depends on company - mine allows it (even encourages it!)

I do this regularly but it's fine within my work policies.

I also often upgrade my travel class and pay the difference. Eg first class in train or business on a flight.

At my work that's fine as long as you pay the difference to upgrade, check your travel and expenses policy/staff handbook if you have one.

Not necessarily many companies have no problem with it as long as it doesn’t affect your job. I’ve done it many times bith working as a consultant and non consultant, I’ve had many people stay over extra days and pay for those days themselves etc so not sure why they would not look at it favorably.

So upgrading the room is bizarre but booking another room is not? The company does not bear the extra cost so it means nothing to them.