In today’s competitive job market, companies are rethinking traditional hiring practices, including the idea of rehiring former employees- often referred to as boomerang employees. During the Great Resignation of 2021, nearly 43 million individuals quit their jobs, marking an all-time high, as reported by CNBC. This wave of workforce exits created significant gaps, leaving many businesses struggling to fill key roles.
Fast forward to now, the trend of rehiring is gaining momentum. According to SHRM, nearly half of HR professionals once had policies against bringing back former employees, even those who left on good terms. However, times have changed. A Forbes report highlights how hiring managers today are more open to welcoming back past team members, recognizing the unique advantages they bring.
But why the shift? Boomerang employees can bring a fresh perspective, enhanced skills, and even rekindle valuable client relationships- all while requiring less time to onboard. Before making the decision to rehire, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons to ensure it’s the right move for your business. In this blog, we will explore five compelling reasons why hiring boomerang employees can be a smart strategy.
Let us begin by understanding who these employees are.
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What Are Boomerang Employees?
Boomerang employees are individuals who leave an organization for various reasons and later return to work for the same employer. These workers may have left voluntarily for better job opportunities, career development, or personal reasons such as relocation or retirement.
This phenomenon is becoming increasingly common. According to LinkedIn, these employees accounted for 4.5% of all new hires in 2021, up from 3.9% in 2019. Companies’ policies on rehiring former employees vary widely—some have strict rehire guidelines, while others welcome returning employees with open arms.
Whether due to a career shift, seasonal employment, or life changes, boomerang employees bring a unique dynamic to the workplace, often blending familiarity with new experiences and perspectives. In layman’s words, boomerang employees meaning are people who used to work for a company, left for some reason, and later returned to work for the same company again.
Let us now learn about how hiring these employees can be beneficial for companies.
Benefits Of Hiring Boomerang Employees
Hiring boomerang employees offers distinct advantages that set them apart from traditional hires. Their prior experience with the company, combined with new perspectives gained during their time away, makes them a valuable asset.
Let’s explore five key benefits of bringing these employees back into your organization.
Boomerangs Reduce Recruitment And Onboarding Costs
Recruiting a new employee can be an expensive endeavor. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the average cost of hiring a new worker is approximately $4,700. In some cases, the total cost may be as high as three times the annual salary for the position.
Rehiring former employees offers a cost-effective alternative. Studies suggest that organizations can save between one-third and two-thirds of recruitment costs by bringing back ex-employees. In a competitive labor market, where vacancies are increasingly difficult to fill, boomerang employees provide a reliable and economical source of skilled talent.
Boomerangs Are Quicker To Onboard
Rehiring an employee who has worked with the organization before significantly reduces onboarding challenges. Returning employees are already familiar with the company’s culture, expectations, and workflows. While they may need to catch up on updates or changes introduced during their absence, their overall learning curve is far shorter than that of new hires.
This advantage is particularly noticeable in larger organizations with complex systems and structures. Boomerang employees can quickly adapt and resume productivity, saving valuable time and resources for the organization.
Boomerangs Often Outperform New Hires
A study by Cornell University comparing the performance of 2,000 boomerang employees to approximately 11,000 new hires in a U.S.-based healthcare organization revealed that boomerang workers frequently outperformed their peers.
The reason lies in their ability to combine prior knowledge of the company with new insights gained during their time elsewhere. After working with competitors or in different industries, they often return with a broader understanding of the market and a renewed commitment to their role. Their decision to return also signals a deeper sense of satisfaction and motivation, as they bring with them an appreciation for what they missed and a determination to contribute more effectively.
Tracking employee performance is crucial for businesses striving to enhance productivity and efficiency. With robust performance tracking, employers can assess how effectively their team members perform and identify factors that may hinder their productivity. One highly effective way to monitor and improve employee efficiency is by using an advanced employee monitoring tool like EmpMonitor.
EmpMonitor is a leading employee tracking software designed to help employers and managers maintain a comprehensive record of employee performance and efficiency. Its powerful features enable businesses to streamline their workforce management processes, improve productivity, and address inefficiencies effectively.
Let’s dive deeper into what EmpMonitor offers and explore its key benefits.
EmpMonitor- Efficiency At Your Fingertips
EmpMonitor is an advanced employee management software and performance management tool designed to deliver precise tracking and performance insights. By using EmpMonitor, businesses can gain detailed visibility into employee productivity and engagement levels.
Here’s a closer look at its innovative features that streamline performance evaluation:
Comprehensive Activity Monitoring
EmpMonitor provides a detailed overview of employee activities, capturing work hours and engagement levels with precision. By accurately tracking how employees spend their time, it offers valuable data to evaluate productivity and highlight inefficiencies. This feature allows managers to make informed decisions and implement strategies for improvement.
Data-Driven Performance Metrics
With features like automated screenshots and real-time activity tracking, EmpMonitor generates actionable data on task completion, time utilization, and adherence to deadlines. These metrics offer an unbiased perspective on employee performance, enabling managers to base evaluations on quantifiable outcomes rather than subjective opinions.
Identifying Strengths and Growth Opportunities
EmpMonitor analyzes employee behavior patterns by monitoring application and website usage. This helps managers recognize individual strengths and areas where employees may require additional support or training. Such insights enable personalized performance reviews, focusing on leveraging strengths while addressing skill gaps effectively.
Insights for Targeted Feedback and Development
EmpMonitor provides in-depth reports that visually represent engagement and productivity trends over time. These insights serve as a foundation for constructive performance discussions. Managers can use this data to offer specific feedback, set clear goals, and collaborate with employees on tailored strategies for professional development.
Ensuring Fair and Transparent Evaluations
The software promotes fairness by providing objective, reliable data for performance reviews. By minimizing biases and using consistent evaluation criteria, EmpMonitor fosters a culture of trust and accountability. Employees can feel confident that their performance is assessed based on accurate information rather than assumptions.
Attendance Tracking for Productivity Assessment
EmpMonitor’s attendance tracking feature records employee login and logout times, offering a clear picture of their work schedules. This data is essential for monitoring punctuality and consistency, two key factors in evaluating overall performance. Seamless attendance logs ensure accurate record-keeping and support comprehensive productivity assessments.
EmpMonitor combines cutting-edge technology with practical tools to deliver unmatched efficiency in performance evaluation and workforce management.
Now that we have learned about this software, let us return to our blog.
Boomerangs Come With A Proven Track Record
One of the greatest advantages of rehiring former employees is the certainty they bring. Unlike new hires, whose skills and work ethic may only become evident after they have started, boomerang employees have an established performance history within the organization.
Data from performance evaluations or time-tracking systems can provide insights into their past contributions, helping employers make informed decisions. This proven track record eliminates much of the uncertainty associated with new hires and ensures the organization can rely on their expertise and commitment from the outset.
Boomerangs Bring Fresh Perspectives
Employees often leave their roles for various reasons, such as pursuing new career opportunities, addressing personal challenges, or exploring different industries. Some may have been affected by pandemic-related layoffs, while others sought to broaden their skill sets or gain diverse experiences elsewhere.
When these individuals return, they bring back fresh insights and perspectives shaped by their time away. Their experiences in different industries or roles often translate into innovative ideas and approaches that can be highly beneficial to their former employers. This unique blend of familiarity and newfound expertise adds considerable value to the organization.
Some Other Benefits Of Hiring Boomerang Employees:
Enhanced Employee Morale
Rehiring former employees sends a strong message to your team: the organization values its people and does not hold grudges when someone chooses to leave. This approach fosters a culture of trust and respect, showing employees that career growth and personal decisions are supported rather than penalized. As a result, current employees are likely to feel more secure and appreciated, which can boost overall morale and loyalty within the workforce.
Increased Business Opportunities
Boomerang employees often return with valuable connections that can benefit the organization. They may bring back an established client base or rekindle relationships with former customers who may have moved their business elsewhere.
These employees’ deep understanding of both your organization’s and their client’s needs can be instrumental in generating new sales opportunities and strengthening existing partnerships. This unique advantage makes rehiring a former employee a strategic decision for boosting revenue and expanding business reach.
Minimized Hiring Risks
When you rehire a boomerang employee, you’re bringing back someone whose work ethic, skills, and cultural fit are already familiar to the organization. This reduces the risks associated with hiring new employees, where unknown variables can lead to potential mismatches. Additionally, boomerang employees often have a deeper commitment to the organization upon their return, having experienced other workplaces and gained a renewed appreciation for your company.
Their likelihood of staying long-term increases, saving you from the costs and challenges of frequent turnover. Moreover, their familiarity with the company minimizes the chances of surprises, ensuring a smoother transition back into their roles.
As with any decision, rehiring boomerang employees comes with its own set of challenges. While they offer several advantages, it’s important to recognize that there are potential downsides as well.
Just as every coin has two sides, hiring former employees may also bring certain risks and complications. Let’s explore some of the key drawbacks of bringing boomerang employees back into your organization.
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Risks of Rehiring Boomerang Employees
Rehiring former employees can be a strategic move for many organizations, but it’s not without its complexities. While there are clear advantages to bringing back familiar talent, it’s important to approach the decision with careful consideration.
Evaluating the potential challenges and aligning the rehire with organizational needs ensures a smoother transition and maximizes the value they bring to the team. Let us go through the risks associated with it.
Boomerangs Might Hold Grudges Against Colleagues or Managers
If unresolved tensions or conflicts existed between a former employee and their coworkers or supervisors, rehiring them could negatively impact team morale. Such friction might resurface and create a toxic work environment, further destabilizing workplace relationships.
To avoid this, it’s crucial to revisit their exit interview and thoroughly assess the reasons behind their departure to ensure their return won’t disrupt the team dynamic.
Resistance to Organizational Changes
Employees returning after a stint elsewhere might struggle to adapt to changes made in their absence. If their primary reason for returning is nostalgia for the company’s previous culture or processes, they may become dissatisfied when faced with new workflows or policies. Worse, they might influence other employees to resist these changes, potentially hindering progress and lowering overall morale.
Sense of Entitlement
Former employees may return with expectations of special treatment, such as higher pay, seniority, or additional perks, based solely on their prior tenure. This sense of entitlement can create tension within the team and may lead to conflicts if their expectations are not met. Such issues could ultimately disrupt workplace harmony and productivity.
Overlooking Stronger Candidates
Rehiring a former employee might seem like a quick solution to filling a vacant role, but it doesn’t always mean they are the best fit for the position. By prioritizing ex-workers, organizations might miss out on highly skilled candidates who could bring fresh ideas, expertise, and perspectives to the team. Taking a broader view of potential applicants ensures the right person is chosen for the role.
Potential for Performance Stagnation
While rehired employees may perform adequately upon their return, studies suggest their performance tends to plateau over time. Unlike new hires who often show continuous improvement as they grow into their roles, boomerang employees may lack the same drive to excel. Additionally, there’s a risk they might leave again for similar reasons as before, leading to further instability.
Higher Turnover Rates
Boomerang employees often have a higher likelihood of leaving again compared to other staff members. Research shows that rehired workers have more than double the turnover rate of new hires, which can disrupt team dynamics and increase recruitment costs. Evaluating their reasons for leaving initially can help determine whether they are likely to commit long-term.
Final Words:
Hiring boomerang employees can be a strategic move for organizations seeking to balance familiarity with fresh perspectives. These returning employees bring unique benefits, including reduced recruitment and onboarding costs, faster adaptation, and a proven track record. They also often return with valuable insights and connections gained during their time away, which can add significant value to the organization.
However, it is crucial to approach the rehiring process thoughtfully. While the advantages are clear, potential challenges such as unresolved workplace conflicts, resistance to change, or a sense of entitlement must be addressed proactively to ensure a smooth transition. Additionally, organizations should carefully evaluate whether a boomerang employee is the best fit for the role to avoid overlooking other talented candidates. Utilizing employee monitoring software can ease this task.
Ultimately, the decision to rehire former employees should be guided by a thorough understanding of their past performance, reasons for departure, and alignment with the company’s current needs and goals. When managed well, boomerang employees can be a powerful asset, contributing to the organization’s success while fostering a culture of growth, trust, and collaboration.
FAQs
Are There Specific Roles Where Rehiring Boomerang Employees Is More Beneficial?
Yes, boomerang employees are often most beneficial in roles that require specialized skills, deep institutional knowledge, or client relationship management. Their familiarity with company processes and their ability to hit the ground running make them especially valuable in such positions.
How Can Companies Maintain Positive Relationships With Former Employees To Encourage Rehiring?
Companies can foster goodwill by conducting respectful and constructive exit interviews, offering alumni programs, and staying connected through networking events or newsletters. Maintaining a positive relationship ensures former employees feel welcomed if they choose to return in the future.
What Are Some Strategies To Ensure Boomerang Employees Stay Longer After Rehiring?
To improve employee retention, companies should address any issues that led to the employee’s departure initially, provide clear growth opportunities, and integrate them into updated processes or cultural changes. Regular feedback and open communication can also help align expectations and foster long-term commitment.
Is There Any Difference Between Boomerang Employees And Bounceback Employees?
Boomerang employees return after a long time, often with new skills, while bounceback employees come back quickly, usually due to short-term issues, without gaining significant new experience.
