Staff transfer is the movement of an employee from one job to another (or from one organisation to another) without any increase in pay, status or responsibilities. Usually, transfer takes between jobs (or offices) paying slightly the same salaries. A slight change in responsibilities, duties and pay increasing may also occur. Transfer is an important source for internal recruitment. A transfer may take place at either at the intention of the employer or at the request of the employee concerned. “A transfer involves the shifting of an employee from one job to another without special reference to change in responsibilities (or compensation)” Dale Yoder, “A transfer involves a change of jobs without any significant increase in responsibility or income.” 

Three types of staff transfers are : 

Production transfer: Production transfer arises when there is need for more workers in one factory (or plant) and surplus workers in another factory (or plant). In such a situation workers are transferred from the over staffed factory to the under staffed factory. It helps to establish the employment in the organisation and pervents layoff of workers. 

Replacement transfer: Replacement transfer arises when an employee with a long service is transferred in other department to replace an employee with shorter service. Such a replacement is also known as bumping. This transfer helps to retain the long service employees as long as possible during a period when there is high pressure of work. 

Versatility transfer: Versatility transfer arises for the purpose of preparing the employees for production transfer as well as replacement transfer. This transfer helps to develop all around proficiency among the employees. It is a tool in the hands of management to have a more versatile group of employees. The necessity of such a transfer can be increasingly felt as part of a continued re-training programme.