BENEFITS - PRACTICE 6

Relocation

WHAT

TVA may reimburse moving and associated travel expenses for employees who accept another TVA position which requires that they relocate, or to new appointees as determined by management.

WHO

• All employees who are requested to relocate in order to accept an internal transfer
• New appointees as determined by management

WHY

When TVA employees are required to relocate in the interest of TVA to accept a new position, TVA pays for reasonable travel and moving expenses to the extent permitted by TVA procedures and federal travel law & regulations.

HOW

TVA'S RELOCATION PROGRAM

Standard Relocation Benefits

All transferred employees who are required to relocate for TVA's benefit to accept a new TVA position are eligible for these relocation benefits:

• The cost of shipping household goods. TVA will arrange and pay for this service directly.
• An allowance to cover subsistence and transportation expenses, including mobile homes, the cost of transporting and temporary storage of household goods, residence transaction expenses, estimated relocation income tax and miscellaneous expenses.

Additional Relocation Benefits

The organization receiving the employee also has the option of paying for or reimbursing the employee's expenses for:

• One house-hunting trip.
• Lump sum living allowance for temporary quarters.
• Participation in the TVA Relocation Services program. (This program is available only to full-time annual salary policy, management or PG-specialist employees.)

Relocation Benefits for New Appointees

Relocation allowances are available to new appointees when determined appropriate by TVA management. The management of the hiring organization may authorize:

• Transportation expenses.
• En route subsistence expenses (if in travel status more than 12 hours).
• Transportation and temporary storage of household goods.

New appointees to management and PG-specialist positions only may be authorized additional relocation benefits available to transferred TVA employees, with the approval of the employee's manager.

Relocation Services

TVA contracts with a third-party relocation contractor to provide real-estate services to relocating salary policy, management or PG-specialist employees if authorized by the employee's manager. TVA pays specified expenses, subject to limitations, for this service, which is available to assist employees to sell their current residence.

Travel Expenses Associated with Relocation

If travel and lodging expenses associated with the move are provided, TVA reimburses employees per diem at standard rates if limitations are met.

TVA's guidelines regarding reimbursable travel expenses-and which employees or new appointees are eligible for them-are covered in the Accounting Procedure 16, which is maintained by Employee Accounting.

Filing for Reimbursement

Employees can file for reimbursement of any approved expenses by filling out forms related to each type of expense. (These documents require Microsoft Word.)

• Form TVA 11128, Reporting Expenses
• Form TVA 11129, Miscellaneous Expense Allowance
• Form TVA 11130, Sale of Residence
• Form TVA 11562, Purchase of Residence
• Form TVA 11568, Househunting Expenses

Form TVA 4418, Request to Move Household Goods, should be completed to arrange the shipment of household goods.

ROLES

Employee Benefits

• Administers the relocation services program.

Hiring Organization

• Determines the transfer is in TVA's interest.
• Prepares the transfer travel order.
• Authorizes certain additional relocation allowances and program participation for new appointees.

Employees

• Request reimbursement from TVA for covered moving expenses that are not arranged and paid for directly by TVA.
• Incur expenses reasonably.

Shared Resources

• Single point of contact for employees and hiring organizations for all relocations.
• Coordinates completion of all associated forms.
• Coordinates shipping arrangements for household goods and/or transportation of mobile homes with Procurement.
• Coordinates reimbursement of expenses with Employee Accounting.

Procurement

• Arranges for shipping the household goods or transporting the mobile homes of relocating employees.

Employee Accounting

• Processes employee requests for reimbursement.
• Develops, maintains, and interprets the Accounting Procedure 16, which includes a more detailed description of TVA's relocation program.

 

RESOURCES

• Human Resource Representatives
• Shared Resources
• Employee Benefits
• Travel Representatives
• Administrative Officers

This practice is based on federal law and various Board actions.

 

Last Revised 12/1999