| As businesses across the UK look for new ways | | | | friends and find your feet again. |
| to cut costs, some firms are choosing to move | | | | Relocating within a company can also give you a |
| their offices or factories to more affordable | | | | chance to progress your career or enhance your |
| locations. | | | | future prospects. |
| During the downturn, most workers were willing | | | | The alternatives |
| to do whatever it took to hold onto their jobs. As | | | | If you are offered a transfer, it's important that |
| the economy pulls out of recession, however, | | | | you consider whether moving is the only way to |
| would you be willing to relocate to another city, | | | | keep your job. Some forward thinking firms might |
| region or even country to save your position? | | | | be open to negotiation. Alternative solutions you |
| Relocation is becoming an everyday reality in the | | | | could discuss with your manager are: |
| UK. In the recent Budget speech, Chancellor | | | | Secondment |
| Alistair Darling announced that over the next five | | | | If you are selected to head a new team in |
| years, more than 15,000 civil servants would be | | | | another location, you could suggest a |
| moved from their expensive London offices to | | | | secondment, where the move is temporary. |
| new sites. | | | | Through secondment, you could help to set up |
| While this move will save the taxpayer millions | | | | the new office and put systems in place, before |
| each year, thousands of people will be expected | | | | training a colleague to take over from you before |
| to uproot their lives and their families in order to | | | | returning home. |
| keep their jobs. | | | | Flexible working arrangements |
| Moving can be a stressful experience. You may | | | | If your new office isn't too far away, you could |
| have to sell your house, find a new one and | | | | opt for a flexible working arrangement. This would |
| move all your belongings. If you have a family, | | | | allow you to travel to the office on some days of |
| your partner may need to find a job in the same | | | | the week and work from home on others. You |
| area and your children will need to move schools. | | | | could also choose to become a weekly |
| Fortunately, many institutions offer relocation | | | | commuter, living in a second rented apartment |
| packages to assist employees with some of the | | | | during the week and returning home on |
| financial and logistical burdens associated with a | | | | weekends. |
| transfer. | | | | Working remotely |
| If the office isn't moving too far away from | | | | Current technology has made working from home |
| home, you could consider commuting. However, | | | | or on the move a realistic option. You could base |
| this will leave you with considerably less leisure | | | | yourself at home and work for the new office |
| time and you'll struggle to strike a healthy balance | | | | remotely and attend important meetings virtually. |
| between work and personal commitments. If | | | | Relocating shouldn't be taken lightly. Take care not |
| your company doesn't agree to fund your | | | | to accept a transfer offer before you have |
| additional travel expenses, this could be a costly | | | | weighed all your options. However, if you see the |
| option, too. | | | | move as a fresh new start and an opportunity to |
| On the positive side, moving to a new location | | | | grow in your personal life and your career, then |
| gives you an opportunity to grow as a person as | | | | the world is your oyster. |
| you learn to cope with new challenges, make new | | | | |
