Changing job after relocating?

FireWyrm

JonathanJ wrote: »

A quick phone call to ACAS and they told me a signature isn't required. I can be deemed as agreeing to the conditions by simply accepting the packaging and moving.

That would make sense. Contract Law applies. You are deemed to have accepted the contract if you take advantage of the terms offered. It is [your] responsibility to read the small print or at least ask for a copy of it. My guess is, there were terms similar to those discussed, it is just you never got them (for whatever reason) and therefore were not aware of them. It doesnt matter, you accepted the terms of the relocation when you set it in motion. I know it is easy in hindsight, but I would have asked myself what they wanted in return for this most generous offer and made it my business to find out before I did it.

EDIT, just seen your reply. It is possible that they are going to write it off...but I would be suspicious frankly. It is very strange not to have written some sort of claw-back into the Ts&Cs. It is entirely possible someone slipped up bigtime, but still...be prepared for fallout.

JonathanJ

Yeah i'm not expecting them to just let me walk away. And I wouldn't be very surprised if they just deducted from my final pay packet.
If nothing else they will see it as bad manners to leave so soon after paying for me to move.

But it's worth noting I didn't just go looking for other work for the fun of it. There are reasons, that I haven't been quiet about either. But they have made no attempt to resolve the issues so onwards and upwards I go.

Ultimately, as they have not stated anything relating to having to give it back should I leave, then I don't see how they have much of a leg to stand on. On their own head be it!
As you say, looks like someone made a bit of a screw up!

FBaby

They most likely have a policy about this, and this policy is probably available, even if you have to ask for it. Your contract probably implies that you are expected to follow all the company policies.

The only chance I could see is you can prove that you've asked for it before you agreed to the relocation and made genuine effort to get it (rather than a quick email not followed up by a phone call etc...) and that you were under pressure with a deadline to agree the package offered.

JonathanJ

I can't imagine they could do it threw a policy and not in my terms and conditions or contract.
Policies can be updated at any time, even retrospectively if they really wanted to mess me about.

Whereas the terms and conditions were something I agreed to (be it in writing or by default) prior to and relocation taking place.

If nothing else it would make them look like they were going about things in a very underhand fashion.

FireWyrm

JonathanJ wrote: »

If nothing else it would make them look like they were going about things in a very underhand fashion.

Oooh, I would be careful using that approach. They didnt have to relocate you. They could have simply made you redundant and saved themselves the money and hassle. I would approach it as 'there has been an oversight I would like to clarify. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about...but.... etc'.

JonathanJ

Haha I didn't mean that was the approach I'd take, if push come to shove as a last resort maybe. But I wont go in guns blazing.

Honestly, I think I'll be able to work something out. I think they might offer me more money and other perks to keep me, but no way in hell they will be able to keep up with what I'm looking at.
I don't doubt at some point it will come up them wanting the money back.
But ultimately they will also want to keep me sweet as there are a couple of critical jobs over the next few months that presently I'm the only one here can do. They will probably want me to come back and help out with them, or at least get someone else up to speed.
Something I'm going to be less inclined to do if they mess me about....

getmore4less

JonathanJ wrote: »

A quick phone call to ACAS and they told me a signature isn't required. I can be deemed as agreeing to the conditions by simply accepting the packaging and moving.

Only if told what the conditions are.

These would quite likley fall under those that would require a signature to be deducted from wages if not part of the employment contract..

ben_m_g

Interesting, I could get myself in to the same predicament.

Offered relocation, not signed anything, there is an online policy but it is very unclear.
I.e. term is two years, if the employee leaves during this time they must pay part or sum of the amount owed.