# 2021-225 Pay and Benefits, Principal Residence, Relocation Expenses

Case summary

F&R Date: 2023-01-06

The grievor explained that when his career manager notified him of a deployment opportunity, he quickly put his home up for sale, since the real estate market in his area had been very sluggish in recent years. While waiting for his posting message, he rented an apartment. However, he was deployed before the end of his lease, which he had to terminate. Brookfield Global Relocation Services (BGRS) reimbursed him for some expenses related to the sale of his home, but not for expenses related to the termination of his lease.  

The Director Compensation and Benefits Administration (DCBA) approved the grievor's request for arbitration concerning the reimbursement of expenses over a three-month period related to the termination of his lease, but concluded that the grievor was not entitled to be reimbursed for expenses related to the sale of his residence. 

As redress, the grievor requested that his entitlement to reimbursement for expenses related to the sale of his residence be acknowledged. He also requested that he be reimbursed for all the expenses associated with the termination of his lease. 

The Initial Authority (IA) found that a member could not be reimbursed for expenses related to two different principal residences at the same time, for the same posting. The IA pointed out that, despite the DCBA's decision, BGRS had given the grievor the choice as to which expenses he wanted to have reimbursed, and that the grievor had chosen the higher of the two amounts, i.e., the reimbursement of expenses related to the sale of his residence.  

The Committee concluded that the grievor was only entitled to be reimbursed for expenses related to the termination of his lease, and was not entitled to be reimbursed for expenses related to the sale of his residence, since it was no longer his principal residence when he received his posting instruction; his principal residence was the apartment he was renting. 

The Committee therefore recommended that the Final Authority not grant the grievor redress.