Pros And Cons Of Hiring Boomerang Employees
Boomerang employees are employees that have returned to work with a company after being previously employed there and then leaving. Reasons for their departure can vary, whether it's to look for better opportunities, take care of personal endeavors, or for a reason out of their control such as a layoff. Aside from the reason they originally left, there are also numerous reasons why employees might “boomerang” back – they may have earned a degree and are now looking to work in a higher position at the same company, they noticed the better opportunity wasn’t that great after all, or maybe they simply miss the culture they were once a part of.
Like any candidate, boomerang employees can bring their own set of pros and cons to the hiring process. Below you’ll find some positives and negatives to consider before welcoming boomerang employees back into your organization.
Potential pros of hiring boomerang employees
Less time and resources to train
Bringing new employees into your organization requires time, money, and resources to be spent on training and onboarding processes. On the other hand, rehiring an employee who is already familiar with the organization, the work that needs to be done, and specific policies the organization has means that worker can settle right into their “new” position and focus on the work they need to do.
A good cultural fit
An employee’s ability to complete their job responsibilities is an obvious must-have for any organization, but an employee that is also able to successfully assimilate into company culture can be just as important. Luckily, boomerang employees are likely to culturally fit into the organizations they are returning to. When this happens, it creates a win-win situation for all parties. Employees that feel welcomed in their organizations are likely to be more engaged, satisfied with their work, and genuinely happy with their workplace. For the company, engaged employees means an increase in multiple areas – profits, customer satisfaction, retention, and more.
New experiences
During a boomerang employee’s time away from their initial position, they may have gained valuable experiences – whether it’s a new degree or new perspectives from a different organization or life experiences, boomerang employees can bring a diverse set of ideas into your organization. From here, your organization can develop better practices across the board from better decision making and increased productivity, to overall better performance.
New connections
A boomerang employee’s new experiences can also bring about new connections. Perhaps their temporary job with another organization introduced them to new clients and customers or maybe they’ve convinced their high-performing coworkers to consider a new position with your organization. When they return to your company, the connections they built elsewhere may join them.
Potential cons of hiring boomerang employees
Boomerang employees could leave again
If an employee has left your organization before and sees that they could still potentially come back if they wanted to, they could consider leaving again – especially if the reasons they left were not resolved. As an example, let’s say an employee initially left because of a disagreement with a coworker. If the issue persists for the boomerang employee’s second time around, they might view this as their “final straw” and consider leaving the company for good.
Current employees may have an issue
Welcoming boomerang employees back into your organization may not be widely-accepted by everyone. For instance, other employees that have remained at the organization for the entirety of the boomerang employee’s departure and return could potentially feel cheated. If they had issues with one another in the past or if the remaining employee feels they should have been considered for a job over an employee that wasn’t technically there as long, it could create unwanted tension or result in losing an employee.
Unfair hiring bias toward a returning candidate
At first glance, rehiring a boomerang employee rather than a completely new one might seem like the best option, but boomerang employees can also create an unfair bias throughout the hiring process. For example, when an interviewer or hiring manager sees a familiar face in an interview or name on a resume, they could unintentionally favor that employee based on their previous experience with the company. This means even if the boomerang employee hasn’t actually gained all the new skills, connections, and perspectives that they could have, the interviewer or hiring manager could still see them as the best candidate simply because they know this boomerang employee and they are comfortable with them. In addition, this could also mean other candidates who may be a better overall fit get left behind.
Take the uncertainty out of hiring by partnering with Nexus Staff. Our team of experienced hiring professionals works closely with candidates to find the perfect match for job-seekers and organizations alike with an unbiased approach for both sides. Contact us today to get started.
