[AlanQS]

I'm either stupid, or my son and his girlfriend have still got live learning to do.

She got a "graduate scheme" job with a national logistics company and, at the interviews she was told that she would be required to work all over the U.K. and would usually be posted to different places roughly every six months dependent upon company needs. She started work, fortunately, at her nearest office up here in Scotland. Fine.

Wait for it. Although they haven't asked any questions, they are under the assumption that moving to these various places and renting a place to live is all to be paid for from her pocket with nothing from the employer!

So, central London where a month's rent on a studio flat could be almost all of her monthly salary and all costs for going down there on your own time, finding a place and renting it, also paid by her.

I can't believe for one moment that this is the case and wonder if any of you have heard of this - and whether it's common or not.

What if you already owned a property? Does this mean you have to sell your home and rent a new place every six months at the whim of your employer? The only people I know off-hand who do this are the Armed Forces - and they pay for the privilege!

[quattrogmbh]

Would seem a little unusual. If you are asked to relocate (Even temporarily) by your employer, then legitimate business expenses would be payable by the company.

[BGM]

err no, it would certainly be paid for at the expense of the employer.

give them a slap

[Kerr]

Even moving every six months would be expensive on its own, without ending up.somewhere expensive.

It takes weeks to organise a let often. Sounds loads of hassle.

Standard practice for any company to fund relocation.

[Moh]

That's quite some expectation given its a grad scheme job.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by Moh

That's quite some expectation given its a grad scheme job.

When I was on work placement during university I was sent to work all over the place. Certainly never paid for it myself.. I was defo the bottom of he ladder back then!

[JLR1969]

I would expect all expenses to be paid by the employer even hire car/travel costs.

However I would have understood what my position was before accepting the position, this sort of thing should be discussed and agreed at final interview.

[davyk31]

I think she probably does pay her own expenses. What is in her contract of employment? I don't see it as unreasonable to be honest.

[chris330D]

We do a similar grad scheme and the company pays reasonable expenses as the graduate moves around. At the end of the day it's down to the employer what benefits to offer or not but this seems harsh if true.

[davyk31]

She is graduate with a job that isn't on the tills at Tesco therefore is pretty lucky.

Also she has probably had a cheap time now with working close to home for the first period which the company have been good to allocate to her.

[A_P]

Yea but in all fairness. Its a grad job, therefore yes its fair the business front the expenses, but then technically why should they? there is a chance that yours sons gf was shortlisted form a large pool of people who wouldnt mind fronting the cost themselves if it meant a good chance of fast track promotion and higher earning in the future.

[zltm089]

hmmm...don't think they will pay for all her expenses!...quite common to move around with the grad schemes....they will give you an "allowance".... but won't be much....

as far as i remember non of us got relocation allowances....

[mowflow]

I'm afraid it's just the way things are nowadays. If she isn't willing to relocate at her own expense to get the opportunity then there will be another 2000+ equally as qualified graduates snapping at her back that will be. It's not fair but it's a sign of the times sadly.

I remember when I left University it was the norm for people in my line of work to knock on the doors of agencies and offer to work for free just to get a foot in the door. They probably wouldn't even take you in for free now incase you added to the electricity bill or cost them too much in extra tea bags.

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by mowflow

I remember when I left University it was the norm for people in my line of work to knock on the doors of agencies and offer to work for free just to get a foot in the door. They probably wouldn't even take you in for free now incase you added to the electricity bill or cost them too much in extra tea bags.

Not to mention all the problems & extra red tape thanks to government legislation

[CHG]

This 6 month placement is quite common at the moment. I know HSBC do it in their grad scheme (6 months retail banking/6m corporate etc), and it's been taken on by a lot of companies in the last couple of years.

They are normally given a relocation allowance, but will not be paid more for living in London. If it's a large company, there will be set out benefits and entitlements.

[dakhu1]

This is not uncommon im afraid - my younger sister was recently offered a grad scheme and it was very similar, where she was expected to relocate at her own expense (the £1k housing allowance in the annual salary was expected to cover this, although this wouldent go very far in somewhere like central london)! On my advice she told them to stuff it and landed a much better role that is local!!

The grad scheme i was on (some years ago) was london based and they always told us that our yearly placements could be at different locations but never enforced this, which bode well for us!!