And the company can sit and wait for 2 months, 3 months, 5 months after you decline to move before it finally says, OK, here's your severance letter.
Hey, the OP quoted my posts from a few days ago. It's an honor:)
And yes, I agree with this statement, above. It's the most frustrating part for everyone affected, just not knowing how it will be handled. I wasn't sure at the time, but we had a somewhat casual conversation with my supervisor, where I was asked if I have considered moving, and feeling like I had nothing to hide, I honestly told them I would not. I didn't have any letters notifying me of a new location yet. The following week I received a surplus notification, with standard severance.
Here is what I believe will happen. There might be an official request to provide an answer to that relocation question, or there may not be, it might just be a question from a supervisor, and who ever answers "no", will likely be put into the standard surplus process, whenever the next round is. And like you said, maybe 2 months, 3, 5... Of course, people that live close enough to their work location, will not be asked to relocate, they will simply be told to start reporting on a specific date, so unless they get "lucky" and surplussed anyway, there will be no severance offered if they don't start showing up for work at the office.