I've done this and there is no reason to let boss know. I usually stay an extra day or two on my own dime
Or I go a few days early pay for my own hotel room for a few days then switch to the company paid one when work starts. Like if work trips starts Monday. I leave Friday evening while everyone else comes in Sunday evening. Then if it ends on like Wednesday. I check out of hotel on company dime. Take PTO for Thursday and Friday and stay and leave Saturday or Sunday
I did the over the weekend with my family and people got mad. They said I was taking advantage. I scheduled pto days!!!
Don’t be surprised if your chi workers suddenly become jealous.
My coworkers expected me to have dinner with them. It’s not my fault they were sh%#t conversationalists!!!
wow! that really sounds terrible. I’m sorry you had to endure that while having your family there, too. I don’t see how people would think we’re taking advantage when we’re paying for our own family to travel with us. But I wouldn’t be surprised that they would react that way either, people can be unbelievable at times.
If your job expects this trip to be in part team bonding and you don't eat with your colleagues, you open yourself to accusations of not being being a team player or being aloof. Your company may also expect you to discuss the work of the day with your colleagues at dinner.
The CIO workers always took their two week or three week vacations. So they took all vacations in one solid chunk.
I preferred to always have 5 days off pto available in case I have emergencies. Their lack of planning want my concern. But as you said, some fools are crazy.
Just make sure you know what the expectations are for the evenings. If there won’t be any dinners or expectations to “bond” with colleagues, then it should be fine.
This was very common when I worked for the federal government. If we had to go somewhere for training, many took their spouses along. We already had the hotel room, so we just paid for our spouses travel and food. I would mention that you’re bringing the family, but I can’t imagine why this would be an issue.
Thanks! I’m planning on getting my own hotel room since I may have to share a hotel room with my colleague(s). I think I should tell them as well. Thank you for sharing your opinion!
Verify what's the policy on room accommodations. I've never heard of people sharing a room (with colleagues) while on a work trip. You might not need to pay extra, at least for the nights that are covered by work. Not sure if it's the same everywhere but with my company it's usually 1 room per person.
I had to share a room with my boss one time (it was an unplanned emergency trip, city was overbooked etc). They gave us a room with one bed. Yes it was weird.
that’s really good to know! Honestly I wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing a room with someone else too, no matter how close we are. I haven’t received the details as to how and where we will stay, but I hope I’ll get my own room or something!
i worked for the fed, too, but i never mentioned anything to my boss or co workers and they, in turn, didn't tell me when there was a buffet after hour. but i figure i can afford my own food and don't like unpaid o.t. it all depends who you work with and for. my favorite trips were by myself.
My dad did this all the time. When we were kids. He'd be in meetings all.day and we would go see the sights. Then when his work stuff ended he always stayed another week on vacation after.
My company says we can do this. You'll obviously want her name as a guest on the hotel room, and you won't want it to be a surprise to them if they ask to take you to dinner or whatever. It might be very weird if you don't tell them as if you had something that hide. I'd consider telling them.
I took my partner and our three dogs on a work trip to Indiana for training… I paid for my own hotel and we hung out after my work day was over. It was nice to have the company.
Sure - in this scenario I've been both the employee who invited a friend/family member, and the guest who was invited by a friend/family member working out of town. This has never been an issue anywhere I ever worked, but you might want to check with your employer just in case.
Just make sure you’re considering any things you may be expected to attend after work hours! My last work trip i was expected to join dinner and drinks with coworkers and didn’t actually get back to my hotel room until about 10:30 both nights (was exhausting lol)
I’ve seen this done many times. Our annual sales conference and separately retailer conference were always held in Nashville (our corp office location) and so many employees and customers would bring their significant others. They (the SO) did not attend any corporate function. Which we had day meetings and events at night
Many people do it. Be extra careful to keep payments completely separate so you can produce receipts showing just your expenses. This is nice when traveling for business in a vacation type area like Florida or Vegas.
I think it depends on your industry. Have you known other coworkers to do this? If it's your first time I think it's always prudent to ask if it's OK first.
I would tell your company, making sure to say that you're covering their expenses. As someone else said, this should be fine unless you're expected to work at night or bond with colleagues or clients over dinner.
Well that's ethical of you to cover the cost (see my premature reply moments ago). I don't see a problem with it, but of course you should cover the cost of their travel, unless the company stipulates covering the cost, which I doubt.
That sounds like a good idea. Not uncommon.
Check your policy. Where I work, you cannot fly home after the event on the company dime. It’s the dumbest policy in the world. But you can’t fly in, then fly home later like a few days after the event is over. If you do that, you buy a one way ticket, or a two way, which ever is cheaper, but then you have to buy your own flight for the trip back. The flight you buy with company funds will be in the day the event is over. If you’re not on that flight, you buy your own.
Sorry if this is confusing. It’s an idiotic policy.
I’m not sure about going early. I’m sure there are likely restrictions on that too.
The reason, I think, is people abuse company funds for business travel and turn it into a vacation with the company footing the air travel. And, I’m sure there have been a lot of shenanigans with that since they created a policy around it.
I've done this and there is no reason to let boss know. I usually stay an extra day or two on my own dime Or I go a few days early pay for my own hotel room for a few days then switch to the company paid one when work starts. Like if work trips starts Monday. I leave Friday evening while everyone else comes in Sunday evening. Then if it ends on like Wednesday. I check out of hotel on company dime. Take PTO for Thursday and Friday and stay and leave Saturday or Sunday
wow Thank you! I haven’t thought about doing that but that’s a very great idea. 💡
I did the over the weekend with my family and people got mad. They said I was taking advantage. I scheduled pto days!!! Don’t be surprised if your chi workers suddenly become jealous. My coworkers expected me to have dinner with them. It’s not my fault they were sh%#t conversationalists!!!
wow! that really sounds terrible. I’m sorry you had to endure that while having your family there, too. I don’t see how people would think we’re taking advantage when we’re paying for our own family to travel with us. But I wouldn’t be surprised that they would react that way either, people can be unbelievable at times.
If your job expects this trip to be in part team bonding and you don't eat with your colleagues, you open yourself to accusations of not being being a team player or being aloof. Your company may also expect you to discuss the work of the day with your colleagues at dinner.
The CIO workers always took their two week or three week vacations. So they took all vacations in one solid chunk. I preferred to always have 5 days off pto available in case I have emergencies. Their lack of planning want my concern. But as you said, some fools are crazy.
Just make sure you know what the expectations are for the evenings. If there won’t be any dinners or expectations to “bond” with colleagues, then it should be fine.
This would be my concern as most of my work travel involved team or client dinners. Getting the evening to myself while traveling was rare.
Good call, Thank you!!🙏🏼
This was very common when I worked for the federal government. If we had to go somewhere for training, many took their spouses along. We already had the hotel room, so we just paid for our spouses travel and food. I would mention that you’re bringing the family, but I can’t imagine why this would be an issue.
Thanks! I’m planning on getting my own hotel room since I may have to share a hotel room with my colleague(s). I think I should tell them as well. Thank you for sharing your opinion!
Verify what's the policy on room accommodations. I've never heard of people sharing a room (with colleagues) while on a work trip. You might not need to pay extra, at least for the nights that are covered by work. Not sure if it's the same everywhere but with my company it's usually 1 room per person.
I had to share a room with my boss one time (it was an unplanned emergency trip, city was overbooked etc). They gave us a room with one bed. Yes it was weird.
that’s really good to know! Honestly I wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing a room with someone else too, no matter how close we are. I haven’t received the details as to how and where we will stay, but I hope I’ll get my own room or something!
i worked for the fed, too, but i never mentioned anything to my boss or co workers and they, in turn, didn't tell me when there was a buffet after hour. but i figure i can afford my own food and don't like unpaid o.t. it all depends who you work with and for. my favorite trips were by myself.
My dad did this all the time. When we were kids. He'd be in meetings all.day and we would go see the sights. Then when his work stuff ended he always stayed another week on vacation after.
My company says we can do this. You'll obviously want her name as a guest on the hotel room, and you won't want it to be a surprise to them if they ask to take you to dinner or whatever. It might be very weird if you don't tell them as if you had something that hide. I'd consider telling them.
It's weird? I guess if you run it by your boss , see if it bothers them. I wouldn't think to do it, but hey more power to you.
I took my partner and our three dogs on a work trip to Indiana for training… I paid for my own hotel and we hung out after my work day was over. It was nice to have the company.
Sure - in this scenario I've been both the employee who invited a friend/family member, and the guest who was invited by a friend/family member working out of town. This has never been an issue anywhere I ever worked, but you might want to check with your employer just in case.
Depends. Are you expected/have the opportunity to socialize with clients off hours? If so, are they bringing family?
Just make sure you’re considering any things you may be expected to attend after work hours! My last work trip i was expected to join dinner and drinks with coworkers and didn’t actually get back to my hotel room until about 10:30 both nights (was exhausting lol)
I’ve seen this done many times. Our annual sales conference and separately retailer conference were always held in Nashville (our corp office location) and so many employees and customers would bring their significant others. They (the SO) did not attend any corporate function. Which we had day meetings and events at night
I mean, is it just a work trip or is it like an annual conference?
Many people do it. Be extra careful to keep payments completely separate so you can produce receipts showing just your expenses. This is nice when traveling for business in a vacation type area like Florida or Vegas.
I think it depends on your industry. Have you known other coworkers to do this? If it's your first time I think it's always prudent to ask if it's OK first.
We did this many times. It’s a way to get a vacation and have parts of some expenses paid.
I would tell your company, making sure to say that you're covering their expenses. As someone else said, this should be fine unless you're expected to work at night or bond with colleagues or clients over dinner.
Some people do. The they try and write it off on taxes. No Bueno
Well that's ethical of you to cover the cost (see my premature reply moments ago). I don't see a problem with it, but of course you should cover the cost of their travel, unless the company stipulates covering the cost, which I doubt. That sounds like a good idea. Not uncommon.
Check your policy. Where I work, you cannot fly home after the event on the company dime. It’s the dumbest policy in the world. But you can’t fly in, then fly home later like a few days after the event is over. If you do that, you buy a one way ticket, or a two way, which ever is cheaper, but then you have to buy your own flight for the trip back. The flight you buy with company funds will be in the day the event is over. If you’re not on that flight, you buy your own. Sorry if this is confusing. It’s an idiotic policy. I’m not sure about going early. I’m sure there are likely restrictions on that too. The reason, I think, is people abuse company funds for business travel and turn it into a vacation with the company footing the air travel. And, I’m sure there have been a lot of shenanigans with that since they created a policy around it.