Room Sharing: Bean Counters v. Common Sense
I've been in this business for a few decades now and just when I think I've seen everything, something else comes along.... Some companies, in an effort to "save money" and "build camaraderie" are requiring staffers to double bunk. Michael Fox, points us to a New York Times article describing the supposed rationale for the double bunking and provides us with an example of why this policy makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. This quote from the NYT article should be enough to make your head spin:
"At the Kaye/Bassman International Corporation, an executive search firm based in Plano, Tex., room-sharing is encouraged as a way to build camaraderie, said Jeff Kaye, chief executive and president. "There is absolutely a cost-savings benefit" to having the company's 100 employees share rooms, he said. But Mr. Kaye said the practice also helped employees get to know one another better; executives are encouraged to bunk with people they do not know for that reason, he said. "When the C.I.O. ends up rooming with a salesperson and the finance guy ends up rooming with a guy in operations, they learn stuff about each other," Mr. Kaye said. "You find out who's a snorer and who's got wacky bedtime rituals. It allows you to discover a greater human element in someone you previously didn't know."
This practice is clearly is ill advised and demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of its dangers. In all of the workplace investigations I've done, I've heard enough stories about hotels and hotel rooms to write a book. Now we're going to ask our employees to share hotel rooms or pay out of their own pockets if they refuse? How absurd! If I want to get to know my colleagues, there are plenty of other less risky ways of doing that and if my company can't afford to buy me my own room, perhaps I shouldn't be traveling. Just one bill for the defense costs of a lawsuit will change this policy in these organizations instantly.
Michael's simple post on this subject, quoting a recent lawsuit filed in Texas regarding this practice, demonstrates the dangers and just about says it all.
Sharing rooms with colleagues on a business trip and/or any other business related situation is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It is dangerous and also just downright disrespectful to employees to ask them to do it.