Relocation allowances (FOI)

Request

The FAQ section of the 'One Team Jersey' website mentions relocation allowances for new public sector staff.

One Team Jersey FAQ

It says: "Don't worry about the cost of moving to Jersey, we can help.

We can provide a visit here for you, your partner and your dependents so you can search for accommodation and relocation costs of up to £8,000."

A

Is it necessary for an applicant to have accepted a job and signed a contract before a visit to search for accommodation is offered?

B

Is a visit to search for accommodation offered in addition to relocation costs of up to £8k, or as part of relocation costs of up to £8k?

C

How much can a single person (a new employee coming to the Island alone) claim for a visit to the Island to search for accommodation?

D

How much can a person moving to the Island with others (spouses, partners, dependents) claim for a visit to the island to search for accommodation?

E

What is the process for funding visits to search for accommodation? Are applicants asked to pay upfront then claim back expenses, or are they given a lump sum before they visit?

F

Please provide information on all conditions for claiming money for taxpayer funded visits to search for accommodation (eg are there any restrictions on flight class / hotel star rating / restaurant spend / hire car brand / and so on)

G

From which part of the States of Jersey's budget does money for visits for new staff to search for accommodation come?

H

How much was spent on visits for new staff to search for accommodation in 2018?

I

How many new staff members benefitted from a taxpayer funded visit to search for accommodation in 2018?

J

How much was spent in January and February 2019 on visits for new staff to search for accommodation?

K

How many new staff members benefitted from a taxpayer funded visit to search for accommodation to the end of February 2019?

L

How much was spent on relocation costs for States of Jersey staff in 2018, and how many new staff members claimed a relocation allowance?

M

How much was spent on relocation costs for States of Jersey staff to the end of February 2019 and how many staff members claimed a relocation allowance?

N

Please provide information on all conditions for claiming money for relocation costs.

Response

A

Yes, formal contracts of employment need to be accepted and signed before a new employee can arrange an orientation visit to the Island.

B

It is part of the policy, and forms part of the relocation costs of up to £8k.

Policy extract

Should you be offered and accept a role with the Government of Jersey, we will offer flights and accommodation for you, your partner and any dependent children to visit Jersey to seek suitable accommodation and for general (self-guided) orientation of the Island. This will be limited to one visit of up to two nights on a bed and breakfast basis and should be booked through our preferred travel provider.

C

The amount that can be claimed for the initial orientation visit to Island forms part of the relocation allowance. The orientation visit covers a two day visit to the Island for the new employee, spouse and dependents which includes a maximum of two nights’ accommodation on a bed and breakfast and return flights from the UK – all of which are booked through the Government travel provider. Whilst there is no set maximum value, expenses are expected to be reasonable based on family size.

D

Please refer to the response to Question C.

E

Please refer to the response to Question C.

F

Please refer to the response to Question C. In addition, the relocation policy does not reimburse for restaurant or car hire spend.

G

The cost of relocating new employees to Island is sourced at departmental level as part of their recruitment budget.

H to M

The following information in relation to questions H to M relates to Tier 1 and 2 employees only.

To provide a response for the whole of the organisation would exceed the time allowed under Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 Regulations.

Also, due to the small numbers involved, costs and employee numbers have been combined for 2018 and 2019 under Article 25 (Personal information) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, to prevent the identification of individuals.

H and J

£8,522

I and K

10 employees

L and M

11 employees with a total cost of £94,220

N

Please see below:

Conditions

2.1 Relocation expenses incurred by those recruited from outside of the Island to "essential" posts will be reimbursed in accordance with this schedule providing in all cases that:

• the reason for moving is to take up an appointment with the States of Jersey

• the removal takes place within 12 months of taking up the appointment

• the employee signs a formal agreement to undertake to repay any monies paid in respect of a relocation allowance if the employee resigns or is dismissed (other than by way of compulsory redundancy) from his / her employment with the States of Jersey prior to the end of any fixed term contract or within five years of commencing permanent employment

• receipts, as proof of expenditure are provided to the employing department.

2.2 In no case will the relocation expenses exceed expenses actually incurred, and the total expenses granted exceed £8,000.

2.3 Relocation expenses must be claimed within one year of taking up appointment, however the Chief Executive of the employing department will have discretion to extend this period depending on the individual circumstances.

3. Allowable Relocation Expenses (maximum payable is £8,000)

3.1 Licensed non-permanent and permanent contract employees

• transport and accommodation, for the new employee and a spouse or partner and dependent children to visit Jersey to seek suitable accommodation. This will be limited to one visit of up to two nights on a bed and breakfast basis

• removal and shipping of household effects and personal property, transit insurance, and storage of furniture

• transport to the Island for the employee and any dependent family

• temporary accommodation fees for up to three months

• incidental expenses connected with the rental of accommodation, this may include legal fees in connection with drawing up a lease, alteration or replacement of curtains, fixtures and fittings

• connection to mains services

• other expenses not covered in this schedule, incurred as a direct result of the employees’ relocation to Jersey will be considered on an individual basis by the employing department

• legal costs incurred in the sale of home in the United Kingdom up to a maximum of £1,100

Articles applied

Article 16 A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations.

Regulation 2 (1) of the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014 allows an authority to refuse a request for information where the estimated cost of dealing with the request would exceed the specified amount of the cost limit of £500. This is the estimated cost of one person spending 12.5 working hours in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information.

Article 25 Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.

(3) In determining for the purposes of this Article whether the lawfulness principle in Article 8(1)(a) of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 would be contravened by the disclosure of information, paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 2 to that Law (legitimate interests) is to be read as if sub-paragraph (b) (which disapplies the provision where the controller is a public authority) were omitted.