Is relocation assistance repayable?
Discussion
Long time no post, things have been interesting.
I took a job two months ago which required me to relocate. The relocation assistance was in the form of a capped limit on expenses to be paid by the employer. The contract is in the form of an offer letter and includes a separate schedule of terms and conditions to be applicable.
Neither document mentions relocation expenses to be repayable. The only reference to the relocation expenses reimbursement is an entitlement to "re-imbursement for relocation expenses, in accordance with company policy, up to a maximum of £4,000."
I guess I need to obtain a written copy (if one exists - yes it's that kind of a place) regarding this relocation expenses.
Are the reimbursements liable to be claimed back by the employer? The fact of my relocation has clearly taken place, but I wonder what principles are in play here.
From the moral side, the job has been nothing like what I've been promised and is already hurting my career. It's stopped just short of outright deceit by the company and settles lazily into wilful ignorance of the recruiter's over-promising. Requests for more challenging work or advancement within the company have been met with general disapproval and condescension...
I'd be grateful for any help that could be given - I never thought that something so promising could turn out so badly!!
I took a job two months ago which required me to relocate. The relocation assistance was in the form of a capped limit on expenses to be paid by the employer. The contract is in the form of an offer letter and includes a separate schedule of terms and conditions to be applicable.
Neither document mentions relocation expenses to be repayable. The only reference to the relocation expenses reimbursement is an entitlement to "re-imbursement for relocation expenses, in accordance with company policy, up to a maximum of £4,000."
I guess I need to obtain a written copy (if one exists - yes it's that kind of a place) regarding this relocation expenses.
Are the reimbursements liable to be claimed back by the employer? The fact of my relocation has clearly taken place, but I wonder what principles are in play here.
From the moral side, the job has been nothing like what I've been promised and is already hurting my career. It's stopped just short of outright deceit by the company and settles lazily into wilful ignorance of the recruiter's over-promising. Requests for more challenging work or advancement within the company have been met with general disapproval and condescension...
I'd be grateful for any help that could be given - I never thought that something so promising could turn out so badly!!
Sorry to hear it is working out.
If I understand correctly
1. You relocated as the company wished you to do so.
2. They re paid £4,000 of your claimable (revenue approved) expenses, on submission of valid receipts submitted by you.
3. You want to know if you quit, do you re pay the money.
So you need to know what the policy is. Ask for a copy of the HR relocation policy, and your employment contract and any employee handbook.
Every company varies, if we relocate someone the expenses remain fully repayable for 12 months (at our discretion)
If I understand correctly
1. You relocated as the company wished you to do so.
2. They re paid £4,000 of your claimable (revenue approved) expenses, on submission of valid receipts submitted by you.
3. You want to know if you quit, do you re pay the money.
So you need to know what the policy is. Ask for a copy of the HR relocation policy, and your employment contract and any employee handbook.
Every company varies, if we relocate someone the expenses remain fully repayable for 12 months (at our discretion)
A lad I worked with who came across as wet behind the ears, screwed our employer morally by reading the policies carefully. The whole factory was closing, but 1/2 the work was moving 140 miles to a sister plant, and some of us were invited to take the move as an alternative to redundancy.
I chose to move to a different sister plant, which was closer to my house, and didn't require me to move (I felt that the stress of moving was not worth the hassle, particularly as I managed to negotiate a small pay rise for the move.
He on the other hand, got a relocation package, moved to the new site, but after just under 3 months decided he didn't like the move, and took redundancy anyway.
2 weeks later he started a job at a customer's site. Having been paid to move and been given redundancy. They kicked up a stink, but he'd had his dad, who was an employment law lecturer, check out the policies for both, relocation and redundancy, and make sure that he was not going to have to repay a penny.
I chose to move to a different sister plant, which was closer to my house, and didn't require me to move (I felt that the stress of moving was not worth the hassle, particularly as I managed to negotiate a small pay rise for the move.
He on the other hand, got a relocation package, moved to the new site, but after just under 3 months decided he didn't like the move, and took redundancy anyway.
2 weeks later he started a job at a customer's site. Having been paid to move and been given redundancy. They kicked up a stink, but he'd had his dad, who was an employment law lecturer, check out the policies for both, relocation and redundancy, and make sure that he was not going to have to repay a penny.
Thanks for the advice guys, I'm going to have to chance it I feel. Any short term pain I feel is nothing compared to making sure my work is always moving me forward and challenging me. If you don't try, you'll never know and not every gamble pays off.
In the case of anyone being interested, I shall post back later should I find a role better suited to advancing towards my career goals.
In the case of anyone being interested, I shall post back later should I find a role better suited to advancing towards my career goals.
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