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Original poster

Away with work - room arrangements

76 replies

ElTortilla · 01/09/2024 15:57

I'm away soon with work. I have a question though. If you've been away for a conference, have you ever been expected to share a room with a colleague?

OP posts:
DollopOfFun · 01/09/2024 15:58

Never.

Original poster
ElTortilla · 01/09/2024 15:59

Oh that's good, @DollopOfFun. I was having thoughts of having to room share and although my colleague is lovely I want my sacred downtime.

OP posts:
Sethera · 01/09/2024 16:01

I was, once, about 20 years ago. Went along with it - wouldn't now. In the event, my room-mate copped off with someone else who was at the conference so I had the room to myself anyway 😄

rwalker · 01/09/2024 16:02

Every company is different some do

OchonAgusOchonOh · 01/09/2024 16:04

ElTortilla · 01/09/2024 15:59

Oh that's good, @DollopOfFun. I was having thoughts of having to room share and although my colleague is lovely I want my sacred downtime.

Dh has been expected to share a room with a colleague he had met before in his previous job. He was also expected a couple of times to share with a colleague he only knew vaguely as that worked in different locations.

I've never been expected to share and would not share. I would refuse to attend if sharing was expected.

Hazeby · 01/09/2024 16:07

No one should be made to, or pressured to. But if the people are fine with it, then it’s ok.

SwedishEdith · 01/09/2024 16:09

No and I would refuse.

CherieBabySpliffUp · 01/09/2024 16:11

Yes, 20 odd years ago though.

PrimalLass · 01/09/2024 16:15

Only once but we were both young, just out of uni and best friends. It was fun then but I'd never do it now.

Mrsttcno1 · 01/09/2024 16:16

Depends on the work place. My last job we were expected to share with same sex, my current job we each get own room

evilharpy · 01/09/2024 16:17

Absolutely not, and would never agree to it.

BobbyBiscuits · 01/09/2024 16:18

I was once on a compulsory weekend skiing trip!
My posh boss paid for everything, but we were asked to share rooms. Except the boss and the one guy who brought in the most money?!
We had to arrange it amongst ourselves but there were only 4 women. Two were besties, the other was my arch enemy. Thankfully there was one lovely gay guy I paired up with. The horrible girl went in with the other 2.
I would not have been happy sharing with any of the other blokes though!

WonderingWanda · 01/09/2024 16:19

Teacher here, school trips yes always.

BunsenBurnerBaby · 01/09/2024 16:20

No. But I know some employers do. I meet same people at conferences over the years and I thought one guy was a serial conference shagger of other men. It took me years to learn he was straight happily married and faithful: but work policy meant he shared a room with a colleague.

FoleyHuck · 01/09/2024 16:21

Depends on the work place and sometimes on the trip, I've been on travel industry familiarisation trips that are usually arranged by a tourist board or tour operator and you might be sharing with a (same sex) stranger. I've also been on trips organised by my own employer where it's been separate rooms. A couple of my colleagues are now good friends so I wouldn't actually mind sharing with them, and in fact offered to when we went on a very expensive work trip to Ibiza last year.

Gettingbysomehow · 01/09/2024 16:23

I absolutely refuse to share with a colleague after the last time. One staff member insisted we share a room even though I said no and warned her why but she went on and on about how skint she was.
Then didn't speak to me for weeks because I snored loudly. I have a CPAP but it's too heavy to carry about.
Her habits also pissed me off and there was constant moaning.
No way I'm ever sharing again.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 01/09/2024 16:24

Yes. But this was over 30 years ago! We were used to it in my industry (travel). You'd meet up with a load of strangers at the airport and be paired up - you'd try to pick someone who didn't look like a weirdo or a snorer. It was unusual if you got a room to yourself.

Clearinguptheclutter · 01/09/2024 16:25

normally I’d expect my own room but have on occasion shared when perhaps there wasn’t enough rooms or budget to go round and both of us were fine with it
I’d never be expected to share against my will

BibbityBobbityToo · 01/09/2024 16:27

We were expected to share 20 years ago, public sector so no extra funds available for separate rooms.

Times have changed though and staff are no longer expected to share in the extremely rare occasions that there is budget available for training.

BibbityBobbityToo · 01/09/2024 16:31

ElTortilla · 01/09/2024 15:59

Oh that's good, @DollopOfFun. I was having thoughts of having to room share and although my colleague is lovely I want my sacred downtime.

I could never share even if we got on, imagine lying in bed and having to listen to them sleep farting 🫣

aintnospringchicken · 01/09/2024 16:31

No ,never had to share

Holidaysrule · 01/09/2024 16:32

Absolutely not and I never would.

cantpullthetrigger · 01/09/2024 16:33

Have never been required to and would refuse outright.

My sister has though and it seems to be the norm at her company for large sales conferences and training events.

Plump82 · 01/09/2024 16:34

Years ago we were sent to an event and some people were expected to share with strangers from other parts of the business. I was lucky and managed to get a room to myself. I'm about to start a new job where me and another girl front office will be expected to travel down to the England office. Im really hoping we aren't expected to share.

Ineffable23 · 01/09/2024 16:36

They asked for volunteers once and I didn't volunteer. Otherwise, nope, never been asked to share a room.