An Investigation of Factors Influencing a Relocation Decision

The present study investigated factors influencing the decision of employees, who, faced with a facility relocation, either relocated to a new location or lost their current jobs. A large chemical company decided to close a research and development laboratory located in New England and to transfer employees to a laboratory located in the southwest. As such, this study investigated a facility relocatior which led to a lateral transfer with relocation. Questionnaires were mailed to 81 employees after they made the decision, with 66 employees (81%) returning useable questionnaires; 47 had rejected the transfer offer. Results indicated that community tenure, perceptions of new job, and the perceived inconvenience of moving were important influences on the relocation decision. In addition employees with non-working spouses, more positive perceptions on the new location, and greater job involvement were more likely to relocate. Contrary to expectations, neither employee demographics nor the number of children was related to the decision. The study had certain limitations: data were collected after employees had made the relocation decision; the small sample size limits the power to detect true relationships; and the subjects were highly educated professionals. Nonetheless, the study provides further insight into factors that influence relocation decisions. (ABL) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document