My employers are relocating to Spain

[icemaiden]

I work 30 hours a week doing accounts for an overseas property management company. There is only myself and the bosses daughter in the office. I do all the financial stuff as well as processing reservations, chasing money etc.

My employer and his wife have informed me that they are moving to Spain.(They already have a property out there). Now today I have found out that the daughter is going with them too. (probably because she has so many debts here and owes so much money to people that she thinks going to Spain will clear all her debts in the UK!)

They have told me that they are going to sell their properties in the UK and buy a two bed flat somewhere local so that it can be used for me to carry on doing the accounts here and for my employer to use when he needs to come back to the UK. (I believe he has to do this every few months because he is not a domicile (Resident) in Spain.) The daughter will continue to do her work for the company in Spain.

I have worked for them for 7 years and I know ideally they would like me to go over there with them, but that's impossible. I have commitments here and family and really moving to Spain is not for me.

I can't see it working even with technology and communication as it is these days. The daughter is constantly encouraging me to go with them and it's now getting a bit tedious. I have told her outright that I will not move out to Spain but she hasn't taken the hint. In fact, it's making me feel like I am creating more work and expense for them by not going with them!

I don't really have a question but would appreciate any views. Shall I perhaps look for another job? Stick with it and see how it goes?

I feel a bit lost with it all.

[KJN]

If you do not want to go (which to me is understandable) then don't go it is your life, you are not here for your employees daughter, (who probably feels insecure about going and wants you there to fall back on) furthermore remember that if they buy a flat for you to live and work in, you are at their mercy and they can sell at anytime they wish making you homeless? I guess you have premises which you are living in at the moment so why can't you work from your own home and bill them for the extra expenses. That way you have no problems re accommodation and if it does go t--s up then you have lost only the job, sorry if this answer seems cold but at the end of the day it looks to me that they can ony come out as winners and you could loose a lot.

[DTCwordfan]

If you are happy with the work, carry on, but keep an eye open for other opportunities.

You working from home makes a lot of sense. Comm systems allow that and I have worked with teams across the UK and across countries like that. A good webcam or conferencing system and you are away.

As to the daughter, have a quiet word with your boss just to get her to back off a little......I am sure your job description and remuneration doesn't cover nanny services.....

[icemaiden]

Thanks guys.

I probably didn't explain clearly enough. I have my own home with my family, the flat he wishes to buy will be used as an office for me and a base for him when he comes over from Spain.
The daughter is only going because she goes wherever her Mum goes, joined at the hip those two. Even though she has a family of her own.

I guess at the moment I will just go with the flow so to speak and keep an eye out for any opportunities as you said DT. I like my work and it fits around my family ties too.

[rojash]

You clearly don't like your employers (you've used both your original post and your follow-up to make derogatory remarks about the daughter, which are not even vaguely relevant to the question) so, if I were you, I'd simply find another job.

[EvianBaby]

I'd give it a chance. The company I used to work for was UK but I was in Export and was the only person on the team located in the UK. None of the other UK staff had a clue about my department so I was constantly working with my boss who was located in the Chezh Republic and it worked really well (apart from him being a bit of a Salads Chef). With all the technology availble now most things can be done over the internet and as there is no huge time difference that doesn't really effect anything. The only problem is you might get a bit lonely being on your own all day but on the other hand that might suit you well. Plus, it could be good a cheap holiday every year.

[icemaiden]

Thanks Evian. I actually don't mind being on my own, especially at work. Maybe I'm worrying over nothing. I guess there will be teething problems to start with.


Rojash-I like working for my employers a lot and I love my work. However, working with the daughter over the years has been immensely frustrating and stressful. Gets away with murder shall we say. Not having to deal with that face to face on a daily basis will be quite refreshing.

[buildersmate]

Covering off the employment law side, your employer will have to declare you redundant if they decide to relocate the business and you are unable to go with them. Not a lot of money (if they pay you the statutory minimums) but every little helps.
I don't see it as a workable solution either if the properties are overseas, the directors and the business are overseas, but you are over here.