Going the Distance: The Human Side of Corporate Relocation

Although the topic of corporate relocation has been investigated by researchers in the fields of psychology, social work, and management, sociologists have had but a fleeting interest in this major life-altering event. Consequently, little is known about how individuals experience this very human and social phenomenon. This study explores the manner in which Québécois and Ontarian employees who moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada under the auspices of a group move experienced job relocation and the extent to which they adjusted to their new environments by drawing on qualitative data from 63 in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Focus is on the identification of some of the main components of the relocation process and the mechanisms that link these components sequentially. In highlighting the dynamics and complexity of the relocation process, this study not only sheds light on how Canadian workers experience this life event, but also brings to public attention a societal issue that is affecting more and more people.