Willing to relocate?

The company I have worked at for 11 years is changing ownership monday. I was just asked to fill out an employee profile form for the new management. It is pretty much just a job application complete with "please attach your resume" on it.

No one knows if this plant will still be open by the end of next week, or if it will just be business as usual. We are of course hoping for the latter.

The last question on the form is "Are you open to relocation?"

I answered that with possibly, since I didn't want to seem unwilling to change for them but the truth is that I don't see any way that it could be a possibility for me. It would mean trying to sell my house that I am upside down on in a terrible market, uprooting my wife who has very serious longterm medical issues and trying to find housing while our credit is destroyed by the debt incurred by the previously mentioned medical issues.

Now the question. Would refusing to relocate disallow any unemployment benefits? In the 20+ years I have worked I have never had to draw unemployment so all of this is new to me.

From memory in Pennsylvania if they move your workplace more than 50 miles you are allowed to claim.

I'd start perusing the local unemployment office website, maybe make a call or three.

In my state it does not disqualify you outside of a certain range (15 miles if I remember correctly), but it could have changed in the last 7 years.

I can't find anything on the Oregon employment department website via searching relocate or relocation.

The nearest plant and biggest possibility is the Adalis plant in Vancouver Washington 118 miles away. That would be a hell of a commute.

The correct answer to the question was, "Yes."

They didn't ask you if you would relocate, or even if you were willing. They asked you if you were open to relocating.

With all due respect, "possibly" is a non-answer.

I realize they asked you a non-question. That's the point.

Anyone should be able to answer the question they asked with a "Yes".

When they give you more details, the answer may change.

It's a very old HR ploy to identify company loyalty. Always answer "Yes". When they give more details, discuss those.

I work in the chemical industry involved in takeovers. It WILL NOT be business as usual. They have acquired 4 adhesives makers. They are orchestrating a merger, and duplicate systems and personnel will be downsized.

They aren't asking you to commute. They are identifying which personnel they can relocate to what plant to remain the most competitive and/or viable.

It's pretty simple to see where the relocation will be. One of the 4 acquired plants or in Europe.

How special are your skills? Do you provide a great value for the money they pay you?

If not, brush up your resume.

BTW, (because I'm in the same industry) I'd take the relocation. If your plant closes, it's because it is not viable, and that is likely a reflection on the employment conditions in the entire community (unless its a really run-down facility).

BTW, (because I'm in the same industry) I'd take the relocation. If your plant closes, it's because it is not viable, and that is likely a reflection on the employment conditions in the entire community (unless its a really run-down facility).

Never underestimate the ability of a corporation to make poor decisions. I would never equate closing a plant to be a reflection of the employment conditions of an entire community. You have no idea what the geniuses are thinking, in their tower, many miles from the situation.

I dunno, but that's stressful stuff, man. Hang in there.

fast_eddie_72 wrote: I dunno, but that's stressful stuff, man. Hang in there.

+1 we were bought a year ago tomorrow, and i didn't sleep well for some time, even though they were telling us from the start it would be business as usual. Good luck

Zomby woof wrote:

BTW, (because I'm in the same industry) I'd take the relocation. If your plant closes, it's because it is not viable, and that is likely a reflection on the employment conditions in the entire community (unless its a really run-down facility).

Never underestimate the ability of a corporation to make poor decisions. I would never equate closing a plant to be a reflection of the employment conditions of an entire community. You have no idea what the geniuses are thinking, in their tower, many miles from the situation.

You have a point, but I'll bet I'm right.

I still take the relocation in a heartbeat, almost without exception.

ugh... buy outs. I work for Ceasars Entertanment, once Harrah's Entertainment. 5 years ago we were the worlds largest casino company in the world.. we still are, but got bought out by a holding company that really does not "get" the casino model.

In that time, they have cut the workstaff almost in half, cut out almost all entertainment, more or less stopped cleaning the place, and still want the remaining employees to pick up the slack.. but we are NOT allowed any overtime.

I might also add.. the Holding Company is the same one that ran Linens and Things into the ground

I can only wish you luck that your new owners/Masters/overlords are a little more informed and cognizent of what they are doing

We have been bought out once before. We were Industrial Adhesives and got taken under the global Forbo umbrella 4 years ago. It was awesome and things got a lot better. I don't fear that part of the changeover.

What we do have going for us is the fact that we are the only facility in this 395 million dollar deal that manufactures adhesive coated tapes for corrugated reinforcements, folding carton packaging and plywood industries.

H.B. Fuller does this too. In one plant 118 miles north of us. We have almost 40% of the market so I doubt they could just up their production in Vancouver enough to cover our sudden disappearance. Shutting us down would be handing business to the 3rd competitor in the market.

I am responsible for the production machinery. I design, fabricate and maintain it. I have built that portion of the plant with my own hands. No one in the world knows it like me. If they keep the doors open I am pretty sure I am OK as far as employment goes.

Fuller has also been a very bitter rival, has put us through lawsuits and even tried to buy us out just to shut us down 9 years ago when we were a rather small player in the market.

It is the not knowing that is killing me. No one at our facility will know anything until Tuesday morning at 7AM.

careful on that. I have seen companies buy out other companies JUST to shut them down

Words like "synergies", "eliminate duplication", "redundant services", "capture the value", and "benefits in the combined businesses" are absolute signals that the merger will include downsizing.

PR Newswire Article

In addition, there will be sizable opportunities to capitalize on synergies and eliminate duplication in a number of areas, including raw material procurement, manufacturing and redundant services.

"Our intent is to fully capture the value of this transaction, and we will work to achieve these benefits as quickly as possible. Our leadership team has significant experience in capturing and realizing synergies. We have developed a detailed synergy assessment and have modeled significant benefits in the combined businesses," Owens said.

Your question was about being open to relocating. As I said, the only answer is "Yes".

Open to relocating? Yes of course!

if you give me a million dollars a year

^^This^^

Same thing I'm saying, just worded better.