Relocation Package

MrsManda

Is there anything in the company handbook about relocation?

Idiophreak

kennyvinegar wrote: »

Whilst I like to thank you for your advice, I don't think you're within your right to say I've conducted myself 'poorly'. How do you know the full situation? Do you not think it's pretty poor of a professional outfit to do something that was not covered legally or even mention it in a letter or verbally before I left? It's not my fault I was looking for a job for a year and then got offered 2 jobs within a few weeks of each other. I handed in my notice, served the week and left. I'm sure I'm not the only person to have done this.

If you don't want advice based on the limited facts you provide either A) provide more facts or don't bother posting. Nobody on here knows the "full situation" - so does that mean everyone's advice is invalidated? In that case, what's the point of your post?

Anyway, you're certainly not the only person to do this. There are plenty of people that do similar stuff. They accept a job only to no-show on the first day. They get referred by a friend, work there a month then ditch it and move on. They work at a job just long enough to have a qualification paid for - then find a job that pays more for people with that qualification. Plenty of people do this stuff, but it's still poor form and shows a lack of professionalism.

You're using their behaviour after-the-fact to try and justify your own. What had they done wrong up until the point you told them that you'd actually just used them to fund your relocation?

I'll go back to my original question "what's the point of your post?" and answer it for you. You came on here looking for people to tell you how horrible and mean the company are for trying to take back money they'd given you for relocation in good faith. They put their trust in you, you abused that trust and now you want people to pat you on the head and tell you it's not fair. Well, good luck with that. If nothing else, I'm sure you'll have plenty of people like Jarndyce who are willing to tell you your legal position without commenting on the professionalism of your actions.

(And don't think these things can't hurt...if there was an agent involved in placing you at the first job, he's probably going to have to give back his commission over this..and he's really not going to be thrilled about that...so you'd better hope you don't need to look for work again in the same sector any time soon)

Uncertain

What absolute rubbish!

The only "lack of professionalism" here has been shown by the company.

Based on what we are told they offered a relocation package but failed to tie it to any contractual agreement regarding length of service.

When they realised the consequence of their error they compounded it by an illegal act, namely an unlawful deduction of wages.

Again, based on what we have been told, the OP has done nothing wrong in law. The company however has, yet you accuse the OP of a "lack of professionalism" for seeking advice on how to enforce his legal rights!

I notice that none of the "moral holier than thou brigade" have suggested exactly where they would draw the line between a month's and a lifetime's service. The reason - you can't and that is exactly the problem when you rely on unwritten understandings of what is "right". Everybody's opinion is different.

kennyvinegar

Idiophreak - if I'd posted the full situation then you'd be reading quite a long post. I tried to keep it as concise as possible, and ask a question on the legalities, but people like you (yes I will pigeon-hole you based on your posts as you have done with me) have jumped down my throat saying I have abused the company, and lumped me in with people who take a job purely on the financial benefits and then leave at the first opportunity. You don't know my reasons for taking the 1st job, nor do you know the reasons for me taking the 2nd. I suppose you won't care to know that my previous (and only) position I held for 10 years. Were you hoping I went round the country getting what I could out of companies, dumping them when I'd reaped the rewards? I suppose this shows my inexperience in the world of employment by coming on here and asking the question. And no, there wasn't a recruiting agency involved in the 1st job. And no, I didn't intend to leave the 1st job after a matter of weeks. I suppose you only think I took the job because I saw a loophole into getting someone to move me across the country for free. So why didn't I use a professional removal company to relocate? Why did I only hire a van and do it all myself? Damn, I missed out! I could have cost them thousands, and then rubbed my hands together knowing that I could possibly get the money back. So if you must know, we are talking about a matter of £250. So I suppose now you will say I am quibbling about very little money (again, that comes down to opinion), so why bother?

As stated by uncertain, I came on here asking the legalities of the situation. Yes, I am slightly annoyed about it, mainly because they had ample opportunity to tell me that they were going to deduct this from my wages. I have said in my first post that I completely understand why they would take it back. I HAVE NOT asked for the money back from them. If I was such an unprofessional and callous person, surely I wouldn't have bothered to come on here to ask the question and would be in the process of demanding a rebate.

MrsManda - There was no company handbook!

gnaril

There is no point whatsoever in argueing over a forum mate.

Dont bite to some of the tools on here, it doesnt do anyone any credit.

Idiophreak

kennyvinegar wrote: »

Is it worth me pursuing and trying to get my money back or shall I just leave it?

kennyvinegar wrote: »

As stated by uncertain, I came on here asking the legalities of the situation.

You came on asking whether it was worth pursing, or whether you should just leave it. If you were purely interested in your legal rights you should have only asked the questions you wanted to hear the answer to.

I don't know why you're getting worked up, I'm sorry if my posts read as harsh...But you know full well it's unreasonable for you to expect them to fund your relocation if you don't stay at the company more than a couple of months. You're hoping to apply the law rather than common decency, which is fair enough.

Oh, Uncertain...Seeing as you're so interested...I'd say 6 months, or whatever's contracted...Happy?

Uncertain

Idiophreak wrote: »

Oh, Uncertain...Seeing as you're so interested...I'd say 6 months, or whatever's contracted...Happy?

Whatever's contracted - fine I agree 100% with that.

And how much was contracted here? None!!

Rather defeats your argument!

You say 6 months - so what makes that right and not Fred's idea of three months or Harry who says a year?

Idiophreak

Uncertain wrote: »

Whatever's contracted - fine I agree 100% with that.

And how much was contracted here? None!!

Rather defeats your argument!

You say 6 months - so what makes that right and not Fred's idea of three months or Harry who says a year?

I don't feel my argument is defeated, at all...Sadly I can't say the same of your grasp of the English language... I said 6 months *or* whatever's contracted. None wasn't contracted. It didn't say "you have to stay for zero months in order to keep the relocation package" So, them not having contracted anything you have to go back to the other option in my "or" clause - which is 6 months.

In terms of what makes my opinion right and Fred and Harry wrong. Nothing, it's a matter of opinion. Everyone has to conduct themselves in the manner that *they* feel is reasonable. What you can clearly see, however, is that myself, Harry and Fred all agree that the OP would be acting unreasonably in attempting to claim back their relocation package.

Emerald11

I've been both an employer and an employee in my time. I've had people apply for jobs, accept them and start and then notify me that they are 5 months pregnant and will be going on maternity leave - have seen all sorts - but have always adhered to the law and paid what was due to the employee. It's professional. I don't know where you are or what sort of industry you work in but where I lived in the UK the City Centre seemed to shrink to village size in certain professions - companies would talk to each other - staff knew staff at other firms in the same field and they gossiped. You say you looked for work for a while and have now moved to a new area....... perhaps for the sake of not getting a reputation as someone who causes trouble you ought to consider whether it is worth pursuing. If it were me - I'd accept what they have done - I wouldn't be happy about it but for the sake of £250 wouldn't want to risk me getting a bad reputation in a new town.

kennyvinegar

Hi Emerald,
I completely agree with your comments. Industry can be a very small place, including the one I work in, which is something I am taking into consideration.

It's a shame some people on here are of the 'guilty until proven innocent' opinion rather than the other way round.