Requiring Rooming on the Road - A Caution From Your Lawyer

Today's article in the NYT, My Colleague, My Roommate, notes that corporate America is beginning to borrow a concept from the non-profit and academic world -- having its employees share hotel rooms while on the road. A cost-saving measure that you can imagine, for the most part, is being met with less than enthusiasm.

While I don't normally post allegations from lawsuits -- as a service to anyone needing ammunition to oppose such a forced rooming request, let me offer as Exhibit A, the summary of a lawsuit filed just this past week in Austin, Texas:

Sexual harassment, retaliation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress case seeking exemplary damages in which plaintiff worked for defendant [Company] as a technician and had to share a room with another employee, defendant [Doe] on a work related trip. [Doe] "masterbated [sic] in front of plaintiff " and plaintiff was terminated after he reported the behavior.

From D-1-GN-06-001277, filed in Travis County District Court on April 12, 2006, thanks to the always terrific reporters from the Courthouse News Service.

I rest my case.