Conference 7.286::digital

  I don't know what effect this change will have on people who are relocating.
Under the recently changed mileage rules, very few people moving from one
Digital plant to another in New England are eligible for relo anyway.

    ... International Assignment Center of Expertise ...
    
    Sorry, I just choked and spilt coffee everywhere.  I remember once when
    we had Expertise Centers for Unix, Networking, Office Automation and so
    on.  Is this the last Expertise Center left in Digital?
    
    Martin

    Relocation? I can't recall the last time I saw a job posted that
    actually offered relocation. (At least an _internal_ job!) :-(
    
    Harry
    

    I was quite surprised when one of the couples who walked through my
    home (I was selling a house in WA) was from Digital. Digital was paying
    to relocate them from somewhere in MA. And this was in June or
    thereabouts.

>    Relocation? I can't recall the last time I saw a job posted that
>    actually offered relocation. (At least an _internal_ job!) :-(

Believe it or not some people are on international relocation and are (were)
relying on relocation services to help move back when the relocation
contracts are finished.  Personally I'm hoping the new services are better
than what I've seen in the past.

Jim Egerton
Digital-PCS <== (quote from relocation services when I was transfered here:
     	        "Digital-PCS?  Never heard of them, I wouldn't worry about it."

RE .3

Yep, if you look at the job postings, there are several posted with relocation.
Yesterday, in fact, there were a couple with relocation funds.

However, you have to sign a 2 year I-promise-I-won't-VOLUTARILY-leave-Digital
contract, in which you agree to repay 100% of relo costs, decreasing (slowly)
beginning year 2, if you voluntarily leave Digital before the end of 25 months.
Digital can terminate your employment at any time during this 2 year period.
This was done because Digital's generous relo package was used by a  number of
people to get where they wanted to be, then the left the company for a better
offer.

One negative side to this though:  In this environment of downsizing, this could
preclude you from looking for a job, even though yours at Digital may be at risk.
This would put you at a disadvantage preparing contingencies.

>   contracts are finished.  Personally I'm hoping the new services are better
>   than what I've seen in the past.

Interesting comment! Digital has relocated me 9 times (5 international and 4
domestic moves) and I am completely satisfied. Of course, that satisfaction may
have been partly caused by the fact the I wasn't asking to get rich on each
relocation. Also, my wife and I knew that some things were bound to go wrong.
However, when they did, Digital was always there to help getting everything
straightened out.

    
    .6
    
    Same perception.  During a 3-yr international relocation I found
    the folks at Concord to be very professional and helpful.
    

>Interesting comment! Digital has relocated me 9 times (5 international and 4
>domestic moves) and I am completely satisfied. Of course, that satisfaction may
>have been partly caused by the fact the I wasn't asking to get rich on each
>relocation. Also, my wife and I knew that some things were bound to go wrong.
>However, when they did, Digital was always there to help getting everything
>straightened out.

Perhaps my opinions have been colored by viewing relocation services as the
combined efforts of the U.S. internation relocation office and the (now)
local personnel office.  I wasn't looking to get rich by relocating and
have no complaints in that department.  My negative experiences have included:

a) arriving at the incoming site for a house hunting trip to find out that
   none of the information we had sent ahead regarding housing requirements
   have been forwarded to the local relocation specialists.  We also found
   out that we had scheduled our 1 week trip for the wrong days (apartments
   are only listed here on specific weekdays).  We had *no* way of knowing
   this in advance, but a "relocation specialist" certainly should have.
   With the best intentions, Digital payed an outside relocation agency
   to help us get settled - this was a lot of money for almost no help.

b) we were told to open an account at a specific bank here so that Digital
   could deposit money for us.  We opened the account, no money was
   deposited, and we almost lost our apartment.  This put us in a great
   negotiating position with our landlord when they didn't follow through
   on several promised items ("well you didn't pay us - just be glad you
   didn't lose the apartment.").

c) tracking down my missing air shipment from ship point to destination
   (while sleeping on an incredibly uncomfortable air matress in an
   *empty* apartment) only to find out that our stuff had been waiting
   in customs here for a copy of our passports.  Personnel had been called,
   but didn't contact us.

d) not getting paid for several months

e) When my current subsidiary, Digital-PCS was formed and I was drafted
   I asked the U.S. internation relocation person who helped with our 
   relocation what effect this could have on my relocation.  Answer:
   "Digital-PCS?  Never heard of them.  I wouldn't worry about it."  Not
   a comforting answer.

All in all the rlocation experience itself has been great, but there were
many times where I felt like I was the first person in the company to
do this.

rgds,
jim

I also relocated with Digital from Irvine, CA to Seattle, WA.  
The move went smoothly, not a glitch.  My husband and I were
so pleased with the relo and moving company contacts we sent 
them flowers.

>However, you have to sign a 2 year I-promise-I-won't-VOLUTARILY-leave-Digital
>contract, in which you agree to repay 100% of relo costs, decreasing (slowly)
>beginning year 2, if you voluntarily leave Digital before the end of 25 months.

>One negative side to this though: In this environment of downsizing, this could
>preclude you from looking for a job, even though yours at Digital may be at risk.
>This would put you at a disadvantage preparing contingencies.

  It doesn't prevent you from looking for a job at another (distant) site, it
only requires you to assume you will be moving at your own expense, whether or
not relo is offered. Which, depending on your finances, may rule out a move.
  I suspect this thing about having to pay back your relo expenses if you
resign from the company will get some people in trouble. It takes a lot of
will power to keep tens of thousands of dollars in reserve to cover a con-
tingency like this.

    It seems the rules are always changed for the exceptions. I know of
    people that did take advantage of relo, but now I suffer because I'd
    like to move out of New England WITH Digital and I can't. I apply for
    job after job that I'm suited and get told it doesn't include relo.
    I even told one rep I'd pay my own relo but they seem leary that
    it might cause a problem and I am overlooked. I have 23 years in
    Digital and I'd like to stay another 23 but I am forced to look at
    alternatives such as other companies just so I can move to a warmer
    climate. I'd sign a ten year commitment, but the company has become
    impersonal to individuals. The company owes me nothing but I thought
    I deserved more consideration.
    
    Kent
    

    There was at one time a fear of people relocating & not staying. I
    relocated almost 6 years ago with about 15 other folks and I`m the only
    one that has stayed. I have a vested interest here in N.J. I was born
    here and most of my family resides here. Its easy for me...the other
    folks had no one here nor did they have a reason to stay.

|    It seems the rules are always changed for the exceptions. I know of
|    people that did take advantage of relo, but now I suffer because I'd
|    like to move out of New England WITH Digital and I can't. I apply for
|    job after job that I'm suited and get told it doesn't include relo.
|    I even told one rep I'd pay my own relo but they seem leary that
|    it might cause a problem and I am overlooked. I have 23 years in
|    Digital and I'd like to stay another 23 but I am forced to look at
|    alternatives such as other companies just so I can move to a warmer
|    climate. I'd sign a ten year commitment, but the company has become
|    impersonal to individuals. The company owes me nothing but I thought
|    I deserved more consideration.

	First of all, things have indeed changed for the worse when it
	comes to relocation. But ..

	If you really want to move, and you are prepared to pay the
	expenses yourself, don't even mention that you are expecting
	relocation costs to be covered to those hiring you. Hint that
	you are from out of state but focus on understanding the job
	being offered.

	Once you have identified a job and you are certain that they will
	offer you the position, then you can go ahead and see how much
	financial help you can obtain from the incomming CC. But back off
        of you sense that they are hesitating, in particular if you really
	want the job.

        The most important thing is the job itself. It then becomes a
	balance between the pain of staying where you are and the cost
	of relocating at your own expense.

        >Per

    I've had the experience of working the process of having a person apply
    for a job in a distant location as an "off the street" candidate. She
    made the appointment for the interview and arrived as if she lived in
    the city the job was posted for.  No mention was made of relocation. 
    She was offered the job (job offer had to go to an address in the job
    location city).  She accepted, took some extra time to relocate
    herself, and started working in the new city.  My discussion with
    personnel was that the relocation package is not negotiable.  It's 0%
    or 100%.  This was 5 years ago....times have changed

>   .............................................  My discussion with
>   personnel was that the relocation package is not negotiable.  It's 0%
>   or 100%.  This was 5 years ago....times have changed.
    
    Does anyone know if this, in particular, has changed?  Can relo
    packages be modified, negotiated, whatever?

re ,16

>    Does anyone know if this, in particular, has changed?  Can relo
>    packages be modified, negotiated, whatever?

From the international relocation policy:

       The provisions of the policy are non-negotiable; additionally, an
       employee may neither receive reimbursement in lieu of a specified
       benefit not used or only partially used nor may a specified benefit be
       traded for one not included in the policy.

    re .14  I'm not the one who brings up the issue of relo. It's usually
    the hiring Cost Center.
    
    re .15  I'll have to rewrite my resume and remove my address and home
    phone number and my work history by location.
    
    Kent
    

    I use a friends address in the location I am looking for a job.  Did
    get a call.