Job relocation Packages

DottyThistle

I’ve been offered a new job in Leeds and it means relocating from Cambridgeshire. I’ve been offered a relocation package of up to £4000, but only if I sell my property in Cambridgeshire within 6 months of moving to the new job. My intention is to rent out my own house and also rent up there until I am comfortable with making the permanent move. I’ve asked if they will at least pay removal and perhaps some estate agent expenses, but this has been rejected. Therefore I’m taking this as a relocation allowance isn’t really part of the package for this job.

In the past when I have relocated, there has always been a package involved to ease the financial burden on me, although it has been a while since I changed jobs or relocated for one. Am I expecting too much, and is this normal now, given that it is an employer’s market at the moment.

Any thoughts or advice would be welcome.

Dotty

PasturesNew

You should consider yourself lucky to have any form of relocation allowance - and judge it on its merits, not compare it to things in the past.

k3lvc

Your package is intended to assist you in making that permanent move, not edging your bets on whether you're going to stay or not.

If you're not expecting to commit to them then why should they commit financially to you ?

Given your uncertainty I'd also watch whether there are any repayment penalties if you leave within a period after the relocation.

dizzyrascal

I can understand your reluctance to commit at this stage. After all, it has been repeated many times on this board that from April you can be sacked for any reason for up to 2 years before your contract becomes permanent.
In these uncertain times I would probably rent too.

DottyThistle

I guess my post didn’t come across quite as I had intended.I am very keen to take this job and to relocate otherwise I wouldn’t even beconsidering such a big change. My concern is that it will require a largefinancial investment from me, and if it all works out then that will bewonderful. The risk for me is if the industry or company takes a downturn anddecides to downsize leaving me out of pocket and out of employment.

The risk is something I will be considering as part of mydecision making process.

Thanks for your inputs.

nightingalesgarden

Dotty,

I thought your question was fine - not sure what all the noise is about.

To answer - it's a trend in the industry.

I've seen in the last 15 years a real reduction in the value of relocation packages. A move from bells and whistles (difference in value paid, allowances etc) to a bit of cash if you are lucky.

I got a small lump sum (taxed) with no strings a few years ago and consider myself lucky. I've changed companies and they would not relocate me if I applied for a job back down south.

Shame, but that's the environment today.

DottyThistle

Hi,

Thank you for your response. I guessed that might be the trend, but thought it was worth finding out what the experience of others were.

I'll be spending a bit of time now making sure of their commitment to me before I take the plunge and make such a life changing and financial investment.

Dotty

nightingalesgarden

Dotty,

It is lovely up North and Leeds is great!

Good luck!

somethingcorporate

£4k is incredibly generous, especially if you were just moving from one rental property to another. Evidently they want to make sure it contributes to some of the large costs you would incur from buying and selling (otherwise I struggle to see why you would need so much to move).

When I joined my company we were offered £1500 and some of it was taxed.

I think it's likely to be a growing trend, they could offer the job to someone local and save themselves a reasonable chunk of money. Plenty of supply in the job market at the moment!

DottyThistle

Decision made! A house has been found, and, after a few chats, I'm quietly confident that the commitment is there from my new employer as well as myself.

Although the relocation amount won't cover all my costs, it will remove a generous part of the sting. I'm very hopeful that the job and the new location is going to be well worth the change and the investment.

Many thanks for all your comments.