Should You Re-hire Former Employees? Weighing the Pros and Cons (Part II)
On Tuesday, we began exploring if it’s a good idea to rehire former employees. Will continue that discussion today.
These employees, as we like to call them in the HR world, are known as boomerang employees –ones who walk away from the company in order to better themselves but return, whether because they miss the great environment and cultural fit, or because they realize the great benefits you provide over your competitors.
As we mentioned, re-hiring employees can have a great number of advantages. That being said, there are a few disadvantages to re-hiring former employees and it only seems fair that we give you those cons so you can decide for yourself. So, without further adieu, here are the cons to re-hiring your former employees. Take a look below:
Cons
Loyalty issues.
Unfortunately, the biggest issue you may run across with a boomerang employee is the chance that they may leave again. It usually takes quite a bit from a past employee to want to leave a secure job in order to pursue another. We’re not saying all boomerang employees will be unfaithful to the company, but that certainly is a possibility and it is up to you to make an educated decision when you re-hire these employees.
Co-worker resentment.
Boomerang employees leave because they are unhappy and unable to get what they want out of their job. And, in some cases, their return may require a little extra incentive from you to make sure they are where they want to be. This can be a major issue to some co-workers who may feel as if their peer has gotten special treatment just because they made a stink about their former position. As such, it is always good to tread carefully when giving your boomerang employees what they want.
Boomerang employees could influence others.
Another thing you might want to consider is the complete opposite of co-worker resentment. Some co-workers may look at the situation as an opportunity for them to try and negotiate their position. Certainly, we think that all employees should voice their opinions when they are unhappy with their position, but things can get a little hairy if some employees start taking advantage of the situation.
Want to explore further? Check out these related articles:
Job Seekers: Should You Stay In Touch with Your Former Employers?
