Visiting the UK on a tourist visa whilst work visa.

Hi! I am in the same position. Does anyone know??

Can I travel to UK as a visitor while sponsorship is being processed? How about while Visa is being processed?

For example, if my employer submits for sponsorship & it's either under review or gets approved while I'm in/traveling to UK and I HOLD out on submitting my Tier 2 visa until after my holiday trip, is this okay? I can't find it in writing anywhere and called UK immigration.

according to the uk immigration rules, you cannot switch into a different visa category on a visit visa, so if you are granted entry under a general visit visa, you must return to your country of residence and then make a fresh application for the type of visa category you want to apply for.
If it is the case that you have submitted an application for a tier 2 general visa and it is pending outcome and you want to apply for a visit visa then your pending application would be withdrawn in order to make a visit visa application.

Hi there. I am actually wondering about travel during the SPONSORSHIP process that my employer is going through BEFORE I file for my visa.

So, Employer would submit for my certificate of sponsorship. During that time I have a planned holiday travel to UK. Will that affect sponsorship certificate? As for the visa, I would be returning to the US to apply for that.

They are two separate non linked processes. If you travel BEFORE you apply for Tier 2 visa, then it should not be an issue.

Thank you so much!

I also notice on the visa form they ask for your travel history. Not sure if visiting the UK a few times would affect that or what the importance of that question is?

No it should not. Perhaps you are overthinking this