Sometimes in extremes cases, the requirement to move to an unfavorable location can influence whether or not someone stays a member of the organization

Season 2, Episode 10

Whenever a job opportunity opens at a distant location, a factor that may be taken into consideration is the climate. Not just the organizational climate on the job, but the climate outside. Maybe it isn’t so much of a concern for the potential employee, but it sure can be for the family — like when the opportunity is in Minnesota or Alaska but the spouse hails from Louisiana or Arizona, there could be misery at home! But liking or disliking the prevailing weather is just part of the story. What about prevalence of bad weather events or other natural disaster? How much of the job is outside and how much is inside? And just because one works in an office setting doesn’t mean the environment is not a factor.

My experience in organizations where members are forced to move routinely, is that climate factors can weigh very heavily and locations can be separated into ‘preferred’ and, well, ‘not preferred.’ To what extent does this knowledge weigh on the minds of those at preferred or non-preferred locations? Or in making moves with career implications?

Works Referenced:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016, December 6). Impact of climate on workers. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Defelice, B. (2015, November 24). The US military towns you definitely don’t want to be stationed in, ranked. Thrillist.com.

Edwards, J. (2018, February 8). The importance of temperature control in the workplace. Volunteer Protection Programs Participants Association.

Greenwood, V. (2013, August 2). As temperatures rise, empires fall: Heat and human behavior. Time.com.

Learn, J. R. (2016, May 2). How climate change could make office work even unhealthier. Smithsonian.com.

Papisova, V. (2016, February 11). Our brains are laziest in the winter, science says. TeenVogue.com.