My spouse and I are currently moving, as I have recently changed jobs.
Everything is happening in MD, Except the company headquarters is in
Illinois,
and they contract with a moving company that goes through a local
moving
company in maryland. (same corporation, different franchise.)

When the moving company came to survey, the only comment I got was
"Please
try to organize a little better so we know what to take and what not
to take."
Later, I discovered they dropped the ball, and our moving dates were
not
confirmed, and after I called they had to set new dates which
inconvenienced me,
and I got a call from our corporate human resources.  The company told
our
corporate human resources that my house was disorganized and a mess,
and that we
had boxes from a previous move. There was a mention of the work
"trash," but
I do not know what was said in that regard.   Most of this is
completely true,
but they never said a word to me, but went to straight to my hr vice
president.
The hr person asked if I moved recently, and I said, "No, those boxes
are from
a move three years ago."  We had moved to a house, and after we moved,
I knew
I was eventually going to be looking for a job, and we let a lot of
things slide undone for three years.  Our house might be messier than
most peoples,
but I know lots of people who have boxes they have carried through
several moves.  (The original movers three years ago were a franchise
of this same
moving company that is now out of business.  They did a crappy job
packing,
and that's why some of the boxes are in bad shape.  Others just
because of
being moved around.)

My questions relating to this are:
1. Packing is included in the relo benefits.  Some of the boxes aren't
fit
to carry now.  Is it unreasonable to expect the movers to repack from
one
box to another?

2. Most importantly, if these movers get me in trouble with my place
of work,
do I have any legal recourse?  What are they?  

The movers are coming Friday, June 27, so it would be nice to hear
something
by then.

(PS, I know I need to sort through my things, and purge, but that's
another story.  We don't have time to do most of it before moving.)

Hi notmn1-ga

It would be hard to answer this question without knowing the moving
companies policies, or your companies policies regarding relocation. I
would recommend trying to find out the exact policies concerning your
companies relocation package, as well as the moving companies
policies.

However, speaking from personal experience I will say this; The moving
company that is used by my spouse's employer for employee relocations
requires that the company pack everything themselves, even if it means
taking things from an already sealed carton (lets say something from
storage) and moving it to a new carton. They claim this is done for
the purpose of "cataloging" each item packed, that way they are not
held liable for lost or damaged property. I found this to be extremely
redundant, as well as a potential needless invasion of privacy for
personal items or family heirlooms that a person might feel safer
packing themselves. But these are their rules.

As far as the moving company getting you into trouble for not having
an immaculate house... I don't hardly see how this is possible. Of all
my husband's fellow employees who have used their companies moving
service, all of them have reported that the moving complained about
"messes" or disorganization when it came time for them to pack up the
employees things. But who has a clean house while in the process of
moving anyways?

One mover even went so far as to verbally berate one of the employees
on his lack of cleanliness because their cat litter box was not
emptied and cleaned out so it could be packed. The employees response
was, "Were not leaving for another 24-36 hours, do you really think
the cat can hold it that long?". At that point the movers got mad and
left, and complained to the employees company. So the company just
shrugged it off and sent another set of movers out.

I would think at the very worst they could do is report you if your
home was a health hazard (i.e. having trash piled up, unsanitary
conditions etc)
If the situation in your home impedes the movers job, then your
company might make you pay out of pocket any additional expenses
involved.
Granted this is all speculation on my part, but I just don't see how
they could get you in trouble at work just because your house isn't
organized to suit them.

Best of luck to you on your move!
chellphill-ga

You would think what you said to be true.  Let me tell you what
happened saturday.

I was told 3 mover should show between 8-10 am.
Nobody showed by 10.  I called.  They were delayed.
Now it's 10-12.  At 12 nobody shows.  I call both work 
and the moving cooridinator for the moving company is at
work, and personnel does not answer.
At 1 pm, 2 people who already look overworked arrive, and 
realize that it is way too much for them to do. They tell
me that the company is looking into getting a big crew there
to do everything at once.  (My spouse was on the cell phone 
and overheard this part of the conversiont.) She also tells 
me there was never a third person and they were never suppose
to be there at 8 am.  She has to wait to hear from her boss to
go home or start. Later she tells me they are going and I should 
hear from someone in 1/2 hour.

At 1: 45 pm, someone from my personnel calls, says "they won't move 
me at all until I clean my house."  I say if I do anymore I'll be
packing for them.  And we go round and round.  They told her lots of
exaggerations, like crusty dirty dishes in the kitchen which was not
true. She brings up spots on the carpet, and my diabetic cat in the
basement.  Well, I had taken my cats to the other house already, and
we had vacuumed the carpets.  The rest is not her business..  She says
there's nothing she can do...my word against theres.   I
say this was in my letter of employment that you move all my stuff.  
I call the coordinator back and go throught the same crap with her. 
SHe is going to try and find a different company, but it's going to be
at least a couple weeks, and I am paying 2 mortgages.   At the very
least, I would think I have a slander suit with the moving company,
and possibly a breach of contract with my employer.  With all they
have told my employer, I know this will effect my career, longterm.
At one point my employer suggested I pay someone to clean my house,
and it ain't that bad.  The cleaning won't help the piles of stuff
that need packed and moved.  It's really not their business if I am a
packrat, and save pieces of paper from 10 years ago.  My realtor even
told me this is rediculous.
I am at my whits end, and I can't afford both houses or to screw up my
career.
I was planning on doing some fix up work (carpets, etc>) on the old
house after I got my stuff out, then rent it if it did not sell in a
month.  I can't do that with all my stuff there in piles needing
packed and moved.  I hurt my hip yesterday moving some stuff, and my
spouse broke a toe dropping a board on it.  We are in sad shape.

The saga is ongoing and any info, answers help would be appreciated.

PS that happened Friday, not saturday, as I said above.  
I have to wait to Monday and talk to the VP of personnel
about all this stuff.

Hi notmn1-ga,
    I am so sorry to hear of your predicament. Without knowing the
specifics when it comes to policies and or contracts, the best thing I
personally can do is offer, as a suggestion, some of the things that I
would do if I were in your place.
First I would take pictures of your house. Be sure to get good clear
shots of each room from all angles. Be sure to focus on the areas that
the movers seem so focused on as being "problem areas". That way you
will have clear documentation of what the house looks like if your
employer questions it.
The next thing I would do is find out the exact policies the moving
company has about how they handle things. That way you can find out if
you are indeed violating any of their rules, or if they are just being
picky about things.
I would also check with your employer to see if there are any other
options, such as you packing and moving your self, paying the expense
out of pocket, and then having them reimburse you. Or see if they will
allow you to choose your own mover, paying for the cost your self, and
then they can reimburse you for it.
If you are stuck dealing with this company, then I would ask them to
give you, (in writing) a specific list of conditions in your home,
which are preventing them from doing their job. It does seem quite
unprofessional that they will come to your home, and say that they
will be back, and then turn around and go to your HR department with
their complaints rather than telling you to your face what needed to
be done. If their list, and your pictures don't match up, then I would
take that to your HR department and let them know that these people
are being uncooperative and are costing you money by having to pay for
both houses while you are waiting on them.

Good luck! I hope everything turns out for the best!
chellphill-ga