Page 6 | 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!

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 23:56

FlowerSticker · 31/05/2026 17:18

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

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What? Who?

Original poster

HandsFaceTeeth · Yesterday 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:

8misskitty8 · Yesterday 07:12

HandsFaceTeeth · Yesterday 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.

LanyardSpaghetti · Yesterday 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.

FlowerSticker · Yesterday 07:42

Soporalt · 31/05/2026 23:56

What? Who?

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Wrong poster, sorry 🤦

LlynTegid · Yesterday 08:10

No is a complete sentence in this case.

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

PurpleDisco · Yesterday 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 …

fashionqueen0123 · Yesterday 09:24

a drs note? wtf

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · Yesterday 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.

StarlightLady · Yesterday 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.

StarlightLady · Yesterday 09:40

HandsFaceTeeth · Yesterday 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.