"Boomerangs in business: why is it worth opening the door to those who

ayshakhatunasha

When an employee leaves a company, it is never easy. But staff turnover is a normal part of business life. People leave, even the best ones. What is important is that leaving does not always mean parting forever. It happens that after a while, former employees return with new knowledge, experience and motivation.


"Boomerangs" in business: why is it worth virtual phone number service opening the door to those who have already left?. Photo 1
Rehiring is a chance for both parties to start a new stage of cooperation. The stories of Steve Jobs' return to Apple, Howard Schultz's return to Starbucks, and Bob Iger's return to Disney are vivid examples of how comebacks can become a strategic driver of growth and transformation for companies.

But not all comebacks are as successful as these high-profile stories. The key question is: should a company always give a second chance to someone who has already left?

Why did they leave?
In recent years, "boomerangs" - employees who left the company and returned after a while - have become a trend. Most often, these are highly qualified specialists, professionals who have made a significant contribution to the development of the company.

The reasons for boomerang employees leaving vary, but most often they are related to personal and professional development.

Search for new career opportunities . 45% of employees leave because they see no prospects within the company. They leave the company in search of new career horizons that they could not achieve with their current employer.
Professional development . Employees leave to gain new knowledge or experience that would not have been possible at their current job.
Financial motives . The search for a higher income or improved social package conditions is the reason for leaving for 25% of "boomerangs".
Personal reasons : Family circumstances, the need for long-term care for loved ones, health conditions, studies or a temporary career break may also be grounds for dismissal.
Layoff due to downsizing . Although less common, it may be that a boomerang employee was initially fired by the employer. For example, a company lays off an employee due to forced downsizing, but is interested in rehiring them once business returns to normal.
"Boomerangs" in business: why is it worth opening the door to those who have already left?. Photo 2
Why do they want to come back?
Social connections and support from former colleagues , relationships with the previous employer and team are important for 40.2% of “boomerangs”.
An offer to return to a higher position or with a higher salary is the deciding factor for 27.5% of boomerangs. When rehired, former employees receive an average salary increase of 25% compared to their salary at the time of leaving.
Often, a new company does not live up to expectations . This circumstance is the reason for 22% of specialists returning to their previous company.
What are the benefits of hiring "boomerangs"
Knowledge of corporate culture . Boomerang employees already know how the processes within the company are organized, how the team works, and, most importantly, share the values ​​of the organization. This reduces the risks associated with the employee's cultural adaptation.
Reducing hiring costs . Attracting boomerang employees reduces recruitment costs by 40% and optimizes the recruiting process. According to Avito analysts, in 2023, thanks to "boomerangs", companies were able to close a third of their vacancies.
Less time for onboarding and adaptation. Returning employees already know the company's internal processes, culture and can get to work faster. According to statistics, the time spent on adapting boomerang employees is 2 times less than for newly hired employees.
Building a strong brand . The company gains a reputation as a brand whose corporate culture and working conditions are so attractive that former employees are eager to join the team again. Hiring boomerangs has a positive effect on the company's image, and also builds trust and increases loyalty among current employees.
New skills and experience. Returning to the company, boomerang employees will apply their experience of working in other companies, share new knowledge and skills, which increases their value to the business and facilitates the implementation of new ideas and approaches in work processes.
What is the company risking?
"Boomerangs" in business: why is it worth opening the door to those who have already left?. Photo 3
For the employer and the boomerang employee, things will no longer be “like the good old days.” Both the business and the employee have changed since the separation. 30% of companies have communication and organizational problems when rehiring, since the return of “boomerangs” can cause a negative reaction from current employees, especially if the new conditions for former employees seem unreasonably preferable. All these circumstances must be taken into account and discussed during the interview process. In order for the return of boomerang employees to be successful, it is important to remember several factors:

Reasons for leaving may recur. If the issues that caused the employee to leave the company have not been resolved, there is a risk that they will lead to his or her leaving again.
Changes within the company. During the employee's absence, the internal processes or structure of the company may have changed, which may cause difficulties for the employee in adapting to the new realities.
Impact on the team : The return of a former employee can cause discontent among current employees, especially if other team members were also applying for the vacant position.
Difficulty in negotiating working conditions. Boomerang employees sometimes expect higher wages or special working conditions, which can cause financial and organizational difficulties for the company. It is important to determine whether the rehired employee should be considered a new employee or not. Should a probationary period be set for the returning employee or can he be considered an already adapted member of the team.