My Question of the Day for 09 June 2010 – UPDATED
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My Question of the Day: You and a coworker are attending a conference. The company has booked a two-bedroom suite for you and your coworker to share for the week. Company policy is to reimburse you for expenses, but you must pay up front. Your coworker has a friend who is attending the conference also and who asks if s/he can bunk with you all after hearing that you have a sleeper sofa in your suite. You agree to this since your coworker’s friend has agreed to pay 1/3 of the suite cost. About a week before the conference is to begin, you receive a call from your coworker who tells you his/her friend will not be attending the conference but your coworker has told someone else s/he can take the spot on the sleeper sofa. You don’t know this person, and with a little probing you find out from your coworker that s/he doesn’t know this person that well either. Your coworker really wants you to agree to allow this other person to take his/her friends’ place because the new person is also willing to pay 1/3 of the suite expenses. What do you do?
(this question was submitted by @tclarkusa; thanks!)
My 2 Cents: This is too easy. I tell my coworker that s/he and the other person can have the suite and work out the expenses amongst themselves.
I get my own room and fill out my expense report to receive the amount the company has agreed to reimburse and write off on my personal taxes what the company will not reimburse.
I’m not sharing a room with someone I don’t know. Knowing me, I would already be reluctant to share a room with a coworker. Truth be told, I don’t know really know my coworker either.
My safety isn’t worth saving a few dollars.
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Frankly, I don’t get this question. How is it that the two with the suite don’t simply switch rooms and the person inviting the friend be the one sharing a room?
Simple. Done. Or have I missed something?
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LikeDislikeThe purpose of having three to a suite is to split the cost three ways but to get reimbursed for having paid 50% instead of 33%. The two coworkers are being provided a suite by their company. The coworkers’ “friend” is just crashing there and chipping in to make it possible for the other two to recoup more of their money. At least, that’s what I got out of the whole scenario. Thanks for your input.
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LikeDislikeI am fine with that as long as the person is not crazy. If anything I just lock my door at night
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LikeDislikeSave a few bucks vs. my safety? That’s a trick question. I’ve been on a trip like this before, with the major exception that I’m sharing a room with 5 guys. When someone stole someone else’s money, we all had to go into our pockets to make sure this guy is covered for and to keep the peace. This broke down our morale a bit. And the strange thing about it is… we’re all co-workers from different offices. The fact that it happened made me quit that job altogether (along with other factors, but that was the main one.
I would rather safe face with the co-worker and tell him that since we’re getting our money back, it’s better to just do the half/half deal and leave this person out of it. Hey, I’ll even throw in the 1/3 if the co-worker can’t afford it. I am not going to give up my safety to make a few extra backs.
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LikeDislikeNo, I do not like sharing a room with someone unless its someone I know really really well. Sorry, no can do, co-worker.
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LikeDislikeI would not agree to share a room with someone who is a stranger to both me and my roommate. Even if they’re not dangerous (!), my personal belongings will be in the room, which they can return to anytime alone. We’d just have to go back to the original 50-50 plan.
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LikeDislikeI don’t think the person should attend unless they have the proper financing to handle the week of expenses. The chance of getting three people, unknown to one another, to share the small space for that length of time may prove to be unnerving to say the least.
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LikeDislikeThanks for your input. It’s nice to see another new face in my comments. Please come again and again.
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LikeDislikeI would go along with it unless I had some knowledge that I should be afraid. I’m a light sleeper and sharing rooms with folks you barely know is usually par for the course when it comes to conferences.
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LikeDislikeJust to keep the confusion down, I would revert back to the 50/50 thing. I mean, a friend is “cool”, but that’s it…
It’s not that crucial to get a break on the price just to possibly put myself in harm’s way, Fay. So I would tell that co-worker to come up with some more money so we can get this thing paid off and move on.
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LikeDislikeIf I am that uncomfortable I don’t go or get another smaller room… I don’t sacrifice my safety or peace of mind for anyone.
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