Employee transfer: meaning and types

A transfer is a horizontal movement of employees from one department or location to another within the same organization. In most cases, a salary remains the same, however, sometimes salary may increase or decrease. It may also involve some little changes in responsibilities or may not.

A transfer can be voluntary or involuntary, as well as temporary or permanent. 

Reasons for employees transfer in organizations

1. Shortage of employees in other departments; thus a company decides to shift some employees to fill the gaps in departments where there is a shortage.

2. Punishing employees; whereas, the employees who commit mistakes are transfered to remoteness area as a punishment.

3. Employee's request; an employees may request for a transfer for example, a married employee may request for a transfer to another location or branch so as he/she may live with his/her spouses.

4. Training employees; transferring can be done so as to train and develop employees to give them new skills & experience.

Types of employee transfer

There are several types of employee transfers as mentioned and briefly explained below.

1. Department transfer

This involves movement of an employee from one department to another department.

2. Location transfer

This is a movement of employees from one branch or location to another.

3. Role transfer

This is a transfer which involves changing of employee's responsibilities.

4. Replacement transfer

This is a transferring of an employee to a position which has been left by another employee.

5. Versatile transfer

This is a transfer which is done for the aim of making employees competent, also known as job rotation.

6. Shift transfer

This involves transferring employees from one shift to another in the same job.

7. Promotional transfer

This is a transfer which comes together with a salary increase, it involves moving employees to higher position.

8. Remedial transfer

This is a movement of employees to lower position (demotion) with in an organization.

9. Production transfer

This involves movement of employees from a department or a branch where there is excess employees to another one with a shortage of employees.

What is a difference between employee transfer and promotion

Transfer and promotion are two different terms with the different meanings. 

A transfer is an horizontal movement of an employee from one department or branch to another within the same organization, usually without involving changes in responsibilities and salary.

A promotion is a vertical movement of an employee from lower position to higher position within an organization. Usually involves salary increase and changes or increase in responsibilities.

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