Question: I ask to move to another state and I am willing to work in an office in the new city. 25+ years, exceeds/exceeds on my performance and my job is independently done. Who is saying no. My direct supervisor, upper management or HR?
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A few years ago, I transferred from corporate location in Pennington, NJ to Jacksonville. Most of my team is in NJ. It was approved by management after it was verified there was available seating, and I paid out of pocket for the move. There was already 2 members of my team at the Jacksonville location. I moved back to NJ after 5 years in Jacksonville going thru the same procedures.
Hoping to move in about 10 years and it gets approved or I may just call it quits and retire. Live off of 401k using IRS rule of 55 which allows penalty free 401k distribution before 59.5 if you retire from the company where the account is held. Maybe find something part time for health insurance benefits.
This happened to me as well. It's called strategic location. The organization you're in pays for seats at an office. If the new office location isn't a primary location for your org or role then they can't pay for a seat there. This decision is usually made by managing directors and HR.
The idea that an employer is required, or even should, allow an employee working on an at-will basis to relocate to a new location, state, etc, is false. If the employee wants to move, and the employer is not able to willing to accommodate, it is the employee's right to seek employment elsewhere. That is where it ends...
Unfortunately this is not something that employees can dictate the terms of, an agreed upon contract in place between the employee and employer.
My colleague had the audacity to GET MARRIED and MOVE, because apparently she had the ridiculous notion that she wanted to live with her husband. (he's near an East Coast, but non-hub, city and is the higher earner.)
She's B3 and 25+ yrs with BofA, and her manager makes her drive the one-and-a-half hours each way 5 days a week to tag her badge.
So they "let" her, but sure not making it easy.
For you, if you can cajole your manager into convincing their manager and HR that you are Business Critical to retain, it might be possible.
Or better yet, schmooze your manager's manager.
I did not get approval to move to bank branch in Hawaii.
Are you moving from a hub like Charlotte, New York, Boston to a non core location (and are you seeking corporate support for the move)?
That's because you are EMPLOYED.
You need to work for yourself to choose when and where you move, otherwise you are beholden to the baby bottle.
It's their way of pushing you out without having to pay severance. It also depends on if your LOB has some type of presence at the new location. if they can't see you directly they can't control you.
Get used to it. Everyone is getting declined. Had 2 people in my line over 15 years both told no.
Is it a hub location for your LOB?