So IBM pays 5k for relocation expenses. The smart thing to do would be to store 5k in a separate bank account and pretend you will relocate while doing the bare minimum. This is equivalent to 4 months of pay at the expense of IBM while you actively search for another position.
Once you find a job, just tell IBM that you found a better position. What are they going to do? Sue you? At will works both ways.
The bigger RTO issue for some people will be this: Would you want to live in an IBM city?
What are the choices? RDU, Austin, Lowell, San Jose? Something like that. They are all tech strongholds, but they are also overpriced and crowded as he-l. I moved from Chapel Hill (Raleigh/Durham area) to a small rural location in the Midwest after turning down a job (with paid relocation opportunity) in San Jose. I decided that the craziness of that area (not to mention the cost) wouldn't be worth it, and took a different direction in my life.
I doubt that I'm the only one in that situation.
IBM is pretty cruel with layoffs and RTO but they aren’t d-mb. This is horrible idea and won’t get far
Definitely bad advice. They are having us work 60 days and paying 60 days severance. So, you will only buy 2 more months of pay by being dishonest. Also, they are requiring us to work with a relocation consultant if we decide to relocate. So, you'll have to pay back an unknown amount for their time wastefully. Who knows what that will cost. Even if you never take a dime of the relocation money, you will have to pay cost. Not worth it for just 2-4 extra months of pay.
For me, regardless of how IBM conducts themselves, I still need to be able to look at myself in the mirror and know I am a decent person. I'm not going to lie to them. I am telling them there's no way I am relocating to their chosen location.
Also, I want yo clear up confusion with people saying they are only giving us 5k in relocation expenses. They are paying 5k PLUS the cost of one house hunting trip PLUS the cost of packing, loading, movers, unloading, unpacking, etc. It's not just 5k. However, they are NOT paying the massive amounts of money that will go to the closing costs and agent fees for selling your home and buying a new one. Not to mention the cost of remodeling that home to the same quality as the one you currently live in or the difference in interest rates in today's market vs the one you bought in.
IBM has run this play before so do not expect to game the system. When my department did colocation in 2016 through 2019, you had 4 options:
(1) You had to be in the office at your new location Monday through Thursday. They did not require you to move but to just be onsite. So, theoretically you could commute every week if you had the desire and the funds to cover your costs.
(2) If commuting or moving was not feasible, you would separate from the company and be paid severance
(3) If you said you were going to move, you had 5 months to get to your new location. Once you moved, to get your relocation allowance , you provided documentation to IBM such your new as a lease or mortgage agreement. Then you received the relocation money.
(4) If you said you were going to move and did not report to your new location on the required day, it was considered an “abandonment” of your job and you were separated without severance.
The only exceptions were true hardship cases that went before a panel for review. An example of a hardship case was when 2 IBMers were married and one IBMer was required to relocate. The panel agreed to let the 2 married IBMets continue to cohabitate and not require the employee to move. But, IBM required the employee who got the exception to sign an agreement that if the marriage dissolved, they would report to their new work location in X number of days.
I think even if you tell them you're going to move but don't want the money, they will still hook you up with the relocation team who will report status. You might buy yourself a month or so but not the full 6. Better to just take the severance package.
This is bad advice.
IBM will hunt you down for $20 if they have it on a ledger somewhere that they've overpaid you.
The way to do it is to TELL THEM you're going to move, to buy yourself the paid salary time of job searching. And then don't actually move. But do not take $5k for relocation and then not relocate - they'll come after you for it.
Do you really think they are just going to hand over 5k to you? You need to actually move, then submit documentation and they will reimburse you up to 5k. Yeesh some people LOL
Yeah, IBM doesn't really want you to relocate - they just want you gone. And the $5K for relocation is truly an insult - like leaving a waitress one penny for a tip. "Adding insult to injury."