HR: Rehiring Ex-Employees?
As the economy slowly starts to rebound, many businesses are cautiously beginning to re-staff positions that were eliminated during the recession. One hiring philosophy that many employers are contemplating is rehiring their ex-employees. According to a recent survey, 40% of employers plan to rehire "boomerang" employees. Although rehiring ex-staff can be a quick and sensible fix, there are pros and cons to consider before following this new trend.
In addition to no recruiting costs, the benefits of rehiring boomerang employees include- they know the business, they have the right skills and they usually require only a refresher course to get back up to speed. Ex-employees are familiar with the company procedures and culture and many show increased loyalty to the company.(Grass isn't always greener....)
A few of the drawbacks include- employees can come back with the baggage they left with- bad habits, etc and if they were laid off there may still be feelings of anger/resentment. These negative feelings can result in an employee not being fully engaged.
Although the benefits seem to far outweigh the drawbacks- its important for employers to carefully examine their rehire decision to ensure that the former employer is being hired for the right reason- he or she is the best person for the job!