| 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 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. The findings indicate that employees' perception of control over the move influenced the manner in which they negotiated their decision to relocate which, in turn, affected their perception of choice to move, their psychological time frame, the manner in which they settled in the new area, and the coping strategies they utilized to facilitate their adjustment to Calgary. The regional contexts from which employees and their partners originated played a significant role in the manner in which they experienced relocation, with francophone individuals from Québec displaying discernible patterns of behavior that were markedly different from those that emerged from the Ontario sample. 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. |
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