Inter company transfer packages
 

Hi

Just wanted to ask all those who have gone through this route if they think this is the average kind of package offered please.

Hubbys work will arrange visas, give us a 20ft container shipped over, 4 weeks aparthotel accommodation and one way plane tickets and that is it.

Now while I agree this is a lot better than nothing, I am feeling a bit done out that they do not provide any other relocation package to assist with estate agents fees, etc.

I have done a spreadsheet and calculated out that we are going to be well out of pocket with this move bearing in mind we have not had a couple of years planning for this move. We have for instance got a new car which we have a loan for - the difference between car value now and the loan will be about £2000+. The £10,500 to get out our mortgage, £3700 estate agents fees, price of taking the dogs over (£4000+), it all mounts up.

I do not want to turn down the chance to go out to Canada really, but at the same time I do not want to go out there without enough money in our back pockets to cover all the expenses.

Obviously the way the housing market is at the moment is also a huge concern.

Is this the kind of package other companies have offered or should we be pushing for more?

Re: Inter company transfer packages
 

We moved to Toronto on an inter company transfer and we got nothing of the sort.... We had to pay for our own house sale, container, rental place, hotel etc.... The company's sollicitors arranged our TWP (They sent us all the paperwork, we collected it at POE) and the company will refund us the $300 it costs us. Other than that...nothing. Mr B worked for the UK division for 7 years, so we knew how tight the company is :-) We just felt that this was the best way to get into Canada and we took it on the chin...We did ask about a relocation package but they said they couldn't offer us anything apart from the costs of the TWP. That said, Mr B was offered a permanent job, no trial period, an office in downtown Toronto and *excellent* health benefits...

We were very lucky and sold our house quickly (11 weeks I think) and yes, it has cost us a lot of money (we had to sell both our cars, both with a loss, estate agent fees etc) but...as a result, we were in Canada *with* a job nine months after first thinking about it. We are planning to apply for PR in a few weeks and hoping that it can be fast tracked because Mr B has a permanent job here (well, knock on wood and all that...). Maybe we should have asked for more from the company but...we didn't want to push it because if it hadn't been for the transfer, we would never have made it to Toronto :-)

Re: Inter company transfer packages
 

thank you for that information, its always difficult when you do not know what you "should" be getting. When we moved here for this job we got relocation package for selling house, etc and that was a move within Scotland.

I have sat all morning going over the spreadsheets, etc and am wondering if it is a good move. It is good for Hubbys career but then not so good for mine (not that I mind being a stay at home Mum - going back to Nursing would be good, but I want experience in a new field of Nursing and thats the tricky bit).

I have such mixed feelings about it all, its so difficult. i think the fact 3 weeks ago we were still quite happy with our lives here, and one day maybe we would move abroad to suddenly having the chance of an intercompany work transfer, estate agents at the house, etc its all moving so fast. But if we do not jump n the bandwagon this time then will the chance come up again? who knows.

Although it is great being able to get over there really quick in a way I do envy the people who have had longer to think about it all and plan and save for the move.

Re: Inter company transfer packages
 

true, and I don't envy your position! At least we came up with the idea in September last year, went for a reccy to Toronto in October (that's when Mr B had an interview with the Canadian branch of the company), decided we *really* liked Toronto and when the job offer came, well, that's when the ball started rolling :-) Which was still *very* stressful, I might add :-)

We moved because, like you, we looked at the spreadsheets and figured out that we could have a very comfortable life in TO on less money. I had a good job as a lecturer in the UK but was eager to leave education. I'm not in work at the minute (although I am looking) but we live very well on Mr B's salary. Something we were not able to do in the UK. We have a huge 3 bed apartment (about a five minute walk to a subway station), no car (did I mention the subway?:rofl:) and because I don't work, the weekends and evenings are ours to with what we please (instead of cleaning, washing up, cooking etc). Overall, we feel we made the right choice for us, and I think that's what it comes down to. You need to do what feels right for you.
It is scary though...I remember having huge reservations as the time of our departure neared...There were plenty of times when we asked ourselves if we were quite right in the head...:-) But I think that is only natural :-) Good luck making up your mind! :-)

Re: Inter company transfer packages
 

You are a very lucky couple. What they are offering seems good, especially for an intra company transfer.

Some companies like RIM offer exceptional packages for new hires and intra company transfers but they are rare and they will lock you into a 3 year agreement that if you leave or get dismissed you need to repay the remainder of the costs of your move.

You are really lucky.

Re: Inter company transfer packages
 

Not if you get dismissed; been there, done that, kept the airfare.

However, getting fired shortly after arriving in a foreign country is not without its problems.

Re: Inter company transfer packages
 

I got sweet FA - absolutely nothing, even paid for the TWP myself - consider yourself very very lucky!!!

I've spent probably $40-45k getting here and setting up myself, all out of my own pocket....

Do I regret it? Nope.... Take it whilst it's still on the table is my advice!

Re: Inter company transfer packages
 

The real issue is whether or not it's good enough to get you to Canada. Once you are here and you have worked long enough for the company to avoid paying any of it back to them if you leave, you have the option to show your displeasure by moving on :)

As a rule of thumb, if you instigate the move then most companies will financially screw you whereas if they want you to move they will fill your pockets with gold.

When I came to Canada the company that I worked for gave me about 7k which I had to spend against expense reports (didn't even cover the 40 ft container) plus 1 months accomodation in one of their company leased flats (it was a dump).

I now work for a "decent" company and although we're going back to the UK at my request, we have compelling reasons other than we just don't like it here. They are paying for the air fares including hotel accomodation and meals if required, for a 40 ft container, up to 5k in receipted temporary accomodation plus are giving me a 2 months salary signing bonus. If they had asked me to move then they would have paid our realtor fees as well.

Re: Inter company transfer packages
 

Hi Caithness Lass,

I think it depends on the company and job, if you look at other threads on this topic you will see that it really varies how much people do or don't get. As you say the problem is the fact that you have not been gearing up for it. My OH and I had been gearing up for it but it happened a year earlier than we were planning for as a job came up that my OH was asked to come over for interview for. For us it was okay as we have been reimbursed I dont think we would have been able to do it otherwise. We were very lucky I think.

Best of luck and I hope it all works out well for you. Did your OH get the opportunity to negotiate the terms of the move or is it all or nothing?