Relocation Packages/Negotiation

wndsr

wndsr

wndsr

Soldato
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Manchester, UK
Morning

Looking for a bit of advice with regards to a recent job offer I have received from a very large multi-national company.

I am currently based in Edinburgh for another large company and have been 'in discussions' with the new company for a few months. We eventually reached the point of getting me in for interview and I travelled down to their site for this. All discussions to this point were along the lines of "we can base you in our Edinburgh office, no problem at all".

I was successful and offered a role with the new company but there was a slight curveball: they need to base me out of a site c.450 miles away from where I live currently.

My initial thoughts are along the lines of:
  • I am prepared to relocate even though (a) new location is not somewhere I would personally choose to live (b) partner would still be based in Edinburgh so we would live apart (c) as a result of previous point, all monthly outgoing would be 100% mine and not 50% each.
  • I would like to negotiate an increase in annual salary to cover the unexpected cost of point C above and the fact I would now be paying for travel to visit the other half.
  • I don't want to empty my savings account to pay for an unexpected relocation, I would like some financial support from the new employer to fund this.
Obviously I don't want to come across like a diva... I definitely want to work for the company in question but on the basis that I go past one of their Edinburgh offices on a daily basis and the fact I was told categorically they could base me here, I feel it's fair to have a discussion about terms.

Thoughts?
 
This actually doesn't sound like a great situation.
Personally I wouldn't relocate if my partner was not going with me. It suggests either that your relationship isn't that important or you are happy to potentially double your costs if you currently live together. In order to cover those costs you'd have to have a pretty hefty uplift in salary. All the travelling back and forward will also either break your relationship or wear you down. Sure lots of people do this sort of thing but I think its tough. I'd be tempted to turn it down unless you can work from Edinburgh office at least two days a week.
 
After months of negotiations they completely reneg on what you had discussed from the beginning?

Not the best start and not what you wanted - i'd be back to the table or looking elsewhere.
 
That's a bit more than a slight curveball. Ask for £20k more than they're offering!

Have you asked them to clarify for sure that you'll be based there every day?
 
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450miles is the kind of distance of London to Edinburgh ? :o

For me, it would have to be very financially/career rewarding to make that kind of impact worthwhile considering your relationship.

I'd also consider the increased cost of living
 
Obviously this is going to get expensive. Not only will your partner be living by themselves, can they afford the rent/mortgage by themselves? If you're paying some of the rent up here, and having to sort somewhere to stay down there, at likely similar rates for a room only +bills as the rent for the whole flat up here, and if you plan to come up at the weekends it all adds up. Easily £10k or more a year extra, in fact the £20k mentioned above isn't far off it. Flights backwards and forwards every weekend, rent down south, you could be looking at needing an extra £1-1.5k a month to make it doable.

Are you still at the local dead husbands place?
 
sigma said:
That's a bit more than a slight curveball. Ask for £20k more than they're offering!

Have you asked them to clarify for sure that you'll be based there every day?
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ivrytwr3 said:
After months of negotiations they completely reneg on what you had discussed from the beginning?

Not the best start and not what you wanted - i'd be back to the table or looking elsewhere.
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+1

Even if they are willing to up their offer to make it cost neutral, and give you a relocation package, you'll be losing loads of travel time and hours spent with your partner. They won't be paying you for all that missed time and all that travelling hassle.

Don't worry about being a "diva", they've just screwed you over, and made the job not worth taking, for monetary and personal reasons. If I were you, I'd just tell them that you went into negotiations following the promise that you'd be based in Edinburgh, and that is all you'll accept. Given the way they've treated you, I'd get it in writing and cover yourself from taking the job when they tell you they will keep their original promise of Edinburgh, and then they tell you they need you to relocate anyway.
 
Thoughts are that because this has come as a total surprise, it gives you carte blanche to ask for whatever you want (compared to had you applied for a job knowing it was to be based a long way from home). My expectation is that the amount you'll need to make this worthwhile will probably make the job unviable i.e. you'll effectively be asking them to cover the cost of accommodation and travel plus a big wedge for the inconvenience and travel time.

Is your partner also relocating out of the question?
 
Calpol said:
It suggests either that your relationship isn't that important or you are happy to potentially double your costs if you currently live together.
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Relationship is very important but we are both young enough (and focused on career enough) to accept this big curveball for a short period of time.

sigma said:
Have you asked them to clarify for sure that you'll be based there every day?
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Yep. Unfortunately it involves taking over management responsibilities for a pretty large team so will need to be on site most of the time. There will be regular travel to client sites but they are growing their presence in the new location so keen to have everybody on site.

The Craig said:
For me, it would have to be very financially/career rewarding to make that kind of impact worthwhile considering your relationship.
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Probably the latter on this one. Money is very good (if I didn't have this to contend with!) but opportunities with new company are much improved, both during your time with them and after.

HangTime said:
Thoughts are that because this has come as a total surprise, it gives you carte blanche to ask for whatever you want (compared to had you applied for a job knowing it was to be based a long way from home). My expectation is that the amount you'll need to make this worthwhile will probably make the job unviable i.e. you'll effectively be asking them to cover the cost of accommodation and travel plus a big wedge for the inconvenience and travel time.

Is your partner also relocating out of the question?
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I think on this basis I am probably more willing to ask for a significantly increased package on the basis that it was a total surprise. I can only assume (and hope) that a company the size of this has a big enough budget to make it happen without messing me about.

Partner is very open to moving, probably more so than I am. Unfortunately just not to the location in question and I don't believe the right thing to do is ask that of them, particularly as I moved to Edinburgh and they came along... turned out not to be the best move for them in terms of settling in/making friends etc.
 
It definitely gives you a very valid excuse to ask for more money, even if they've nailed you down to a salary range during the process and have now made you an offer based on that they fact that they've now changed something like this gives you plenty of room to ask for a hefty raise and relocation package.

Given that you're going to have to rent somewhere, fly back and forth every weekend etc.. I'd perhaps be asking for more than 20k on top of whatever figure you initially gave them

I'd look at other angles too, if they've got an office in Edinburgh then would it be possible for you to initially work in this new location and then move back to the Edinburgh office. Could they pay for an apartment and flights back each weekend (would be more efficient than paying you extra to cover the same)?
 
I find it very bizzarre that they would decide last minute that the job is in fact 450 miles away from where you believed it to be. Big red flag right there; what else will they change when you start?

Don't base such a massive decision on the short term positivity and enthusiasm you have for being offered the new role. That is a big commitment and a big lifestyle change that could possibly have an impact on your relationship. So, be careful - there is more to life than money and Edinburgh has a pretty vibrant job market. Also, if your partner is staying in Edinburgh and they moved there with you in the first place, consider if what you are asking of them is fair. On the flip side though, it's worth trying to discuss why your partner does not want to move to the place in question. In many cases it's based on pure sterotype. I live in London having relocated from up North and I love it. My partner does to despite initial skepticism but had a willingness to give it a shot on the basis that if it didn't work out, we'd leave.

The distances you are quoting sounds like it may be London. It can be a lonely place to live. If you are used to your own place, there's a chance that you'll end up in a house share. If you don't currently WANT to live in this place (which may or may not be London of course) then that's not a good start.

By all means if it will work then good luck to you but speaking with a bit more wisdom under my belt I can say there is absolutely no way I'd take that job in those circumstances if I didn't actually want to live in that city.

On the flip side; perhaps take the opportunity to discuss your current situation with your current employer. You never know, they may be able to fix the reasons you are looking to leave in the first place.

You certainly would not be coming accross as a 'Diva' in discussing something that was never on the table to start with...and whos to say it's short term?
 
Hi all, thanks very much for the responses and apologies for not updating sooner.

After going back to the prospective employer to say I would require "support" (I didn't even get on to money, I wanted to see if they would play their hand first) they said they will base me out of their Edinburgh office for contractual purposes but the role would be 80-100% travel. I was expecting a very high amount of travel with the role anyway so this is a perfect outcome for me.

Just awaiting the contract signing then I will hand in my resignation. Thanks again all.
 
wndsr said:
Hi all, thanks very much for the responses and apologies for not updating sooner.

After going back to the prospective employer to say I would require "support" (I didn't even get on to money, I wanted to see if they would play their hand first) they said they will base me out of their Edinburgh office for contractual purposes but the role would be 80-100% travel. I was expecting a very high amount of travel with the role anyway so this is a perfect outcome for me.

Just awaiting the contract signing then I will hand in my resignation. Thanks again all.
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Travel on their dime I hope? And that hopefully means a return to home at the end of every week?
 
sigma said:
100% travel sounds like it's pretty akin to relocating? Are they adjusting ££ accordingly?
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Well I knew the role would involve lots of travel. It's one of those types of organisations that send their colleagues to the sites of their clients for a week. I'm happy with everything they have offered now.
 
wndsr said:
Hi all, thanks very much for the responses and apologies for not updating sooner.

After going back to the prospective employer to say I would require "support" (I didn't even get on to money, I wanted to see if they would play their hand first) they said they will base me out of their Edinburgh office for contractual purposes but the role would be 80-100% travel. I was expecting a very high amount of travel with the role anyway so this is a perfect outcome for me.

Just awaiting the contract signing then I will hand in my resignation. Thanks again all.
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nice one, start collecting those per diems, hotel points and air miles... hopefully you won't need to pay for another holiday again over the next decade
 
sigma said:
100% travel sounds like it's pretty akin to relocating? Are they adjusting ££ accordingly?
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Not at all, as it is travel from a location where he lives rather than travel from a location 450 miles away. He can now bill all travel to that site and presumably accommodation and sustanance too, which wouldn't be the case if it was his permanent place of work.
 
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