Employee told they have to transfer to store 60 miles away or leave job of 8 years: ' I only got a 1 week notice'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Feb 27, 2026 3:00 PM EST

Family drama is coming for this workplace! 

A lot of people work with their family members for years, even decades, without any issues. So it's hard to imagine why it would be "conflict of interest" for this person to be suddenly employed under their uncle's leadership! 

Just think about how many families you see running restaurants, laundromats, or clothing stores together. They work like a well-oiled machine because they know each other so well! 

Yet for some reason, this worker got the shock of a lifetime when their uncle became the store director at their workplace: they're now going to have to move locations while their uncle settles in. 

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  • 01
    Uncle packs shipping boxes while looking at adult nephew.
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Uncle packs shipping boxes while looking at adult nephew. 

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    To no fault of my own, I have to either transfer to a store 60 miles away or quit the job I’ve had for 8 years

    My uncle is moving from another state and becoming the store director at the store where I work.
    via u/BiAndShy57
  • 03
    Because it is a "conflict of interest" to be managed by a family member, I have to transfer. And
    via u/BiAndShy57
  • 04
    the only store that accepted my transfer is 60 miles from my house. To
    via u/BiAndShy57
  • 05
    no fault of my own, I have to either work somewhere highly inconvenient to get to or quit the job I've
    via u/BiAndShy57
  • 06
    had for 8 years. And I only got a 1 week notice on all this
    via u/BiAndShy57

    This is tough, and this person shouldn't have to deal with this kind of stress. One would hope that an employee could peacefully co-exist with an uncle, and even if issues arose, HR could get involved. 

    There probably aren't strings that the uncle could pull, either, seeing as he's new here. 

  • 07

    Good advice!

    Krauser_Carpentry I would say im not transferring and make them fire you. Never quit or you screw yourself out of severance.
    via u/Krauser_Carpentry

    If you quit, there's no money in it for you. If they let you go, you can get yourself a nice unemployment check to float yourself by for a few months! 

  • 08
    BiAndShy57 Original Poster's Reply Since I agreed to the transfer because at the time they said I "could probably" be transferred to the store that's within walking distance, in their eyes I already agreed to go there next week. If I just don't show up to the new store, would that be like a "my fault" firing and I don't get severance?
    via u/BiAndShy57

    Yeah, it probably would get you fired. 

  • 09

    Great question! What could he have been thinking when he agreed?

    LeadingImpressive938 What does the uncle think about the situation
    via u/LeadingImpressive938
  • 10
    BiAndShy57 Original Poster's Reply He thought I'd be transferred to the store within walking distance of my house. I thought I was too when I agreed to transfer. Now everything is in motion and nobody knows what's happening
    via u/BiAndShy57

    Maybe patience will help here. Once the uncle is instated, maybe then he can pull some strings to get this person rehired. In the same way that seasonal workers may leave and return, perhaps the same logic could be applied in this case here. 

  • 11
    Mountain-Full- 60 miles is not a reasonable commute- they're basically firing you. Stop complaining to us and either fight this or make them fire you and collect unemployment.
    via u/Mountain-Full-
  • 12
    BiAndShy57 Original Poster's Reply Good point, actually. What do I have to lose at this point? They said I "could probably" be transferred to the store that's literally within walking distance. But once I agreed to be transferred and filled out the transfer paperwork they said "I just found out that store got its labor cut and this is the only one available". I already agreed to be transferred so the blame might fall on me anyway
    via u/BiAndShy57
  • 13
    Mountain-Full- Did the transfer paperwork you filled out have the preferred store address on it?
    via u/Mountain-Full-
  • 14

    This is such a shame

    BiAndShy57 Original Poster's Reply There was a section to put preferred stores. I listed 4 and got none of them. Verbally the assistant director, acting as like the temporary store director right now, said I "could probably" get into the store that's within walking distance.
    via u/BiAndShy57

    There are 4 other options, and the AD couldn't let them work at any of those? Ridiculous. 

  • 15

    This doesn't seem quite right, either

    Green-Dragon-14 Why doesn't your uncle not take the job. He is essentially pushing you out of a job you've had for 8yrs. What kinda family have you got that's happy to do that. This is a hill to di on.
    via u/Green-Dragon-14

    This is just one of those unfortunate life circumstances. Let's hope this person finds a job nearby soon enough! 

  • 16
    Employee in overalls carries cardboard box.
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    Employee in overalls carries cardboard box. 

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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