Who Pays for Your Job Relocation

The slightly inconvenient news? The job’s across the country.

How are you going to get your stuff there? And who pays to move it?

Like the answer to most of life’s great mysteries, the answer is, “Well, it depends.” Whether or not your new employer will pay for relocating your stuff to your new city is something that needs to be worked out between you and your human resources representative. There’s no law that says a company has to foot the bill.

Job relocation

That said, many companies will do just that (within reason). Here are a few things to keep in mind when speaking to your new company about the big move.

What’s the budget?

First, what’s the cap? Many employers will offer you help, but only to a certain point. Often, that amount falls short of what it actually costs to move. Because moving is never simple (duh), costs add up. While they aren’t literal moving expenses, long-term costs (higher rent, school tuition, etc.) should be considered.

Job requirements

Second, are you obligated to stay at your new job for a set period of time? Your new employer isn’t dumb. If you’re hoping to get XYZ Inc. to pay for your move, you should expect that it’ll want some assurance from you that you plan to stay in the job. Leave early, and you may be obligated to pay back those moving expenses.

Relocation assistance

Third, what’s covered? Will your new employer pay to get your car to its new destination? Do you have a baby grand that requires expert movers? By moving are you breaking a lease in your current apartment that will result in a penalty? All these things (and many, many more) need to be investigated.

Bottom line: Get it in writing and then shop around. There’s a chance you’ll find a better deal than your new company will provide once everything is said and done.