The Boomerang Employee Effect

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Boomerang employee

Hiring former employees was considered taboo. Some companies even had strict policies against this practice. But in recent years, the boomerang employee effect has become increasingly common, with studies showing that up to 40% of employees will boomerang back to their former employer at some point in their careers. There is nothing wrong with onboarding former employees as they bring back valuable experience and knowledge that can help the company be more successful. Continue reading to know more about boomerang employees. 

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Who is a Boomerang Employee?

A boomerang employee is an individual who leaves a company for personal or professional reasons and later returns to work for the same company as a rehired employee. This phenomenon is often referred to as “boomeranging” or “reverse job hopping”. Boomerang employees can bring valuable experience and knowledge back to the company, and they may also have a stronger understanding of the company’s culture and values than new hires.

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But the question is why employees choose to boomerang back to their former employer. Some of the reasons include:

  • Employees may leave their current jobs due to factors such as low pay, poor management, or a lack of opportunities for advancement. Once they have had some time away from their former employer, they may realize that the job was not as bad as they thought it was and decide to return.
  • Employees may leave their jobs due to personal reasons, such as getting married,  the need to relocate for a spouse’s job or to take care of a sick child. Once their personal circumstances have changed, they may decide to return to their former employer.
  • Employees who have worked for a company for a long time may develop strong relationships with their colleagues and managers. They may also be familiar with the company’s culture and values. Once they have had some time away from the company, they may miss the familiar environment and decide to return.
Francina Harrison, The Career Engineer

Pros and Cons of Boomerang Employees

Everything comes with its own set of pros and cons, and so do boomerang employees. Here are some pros and cons of boomerang employees to help both employees and employers to make a better decision:

Pros of Boomerang Employees

Mentioned below are some pros of hiring boomerang employees:

  • Boomerang employees have already worked for the company and are familiar with its culture, products, and services. They can bring back valuable experience and knowledge that can help the company to be more successful.
  • Boomerang employees are already familiar with the company and its expectations. They may be more engaged and productive than new hires, who will need to take time to learn the company’s culture and ways of doing things.
  • Boomerang employees already know the company’s culture and values. This can save the company time and money on training and onboarding.
  • Boomerang employees may still have a strong network of contacts within the company. This can help them to be more successful in their new role.
  • Boomerang employees may be more likely to stay with the company for a longer period of time than new hires. This can save the company money on recruitment and training costs.

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Cons of Boomerang Employees

Mentioned below are some cons of hiring boomerang employees:

  • Boomerang employees may have gained new skills and experience while they were away. They may need to be paid more than they were paid before in order to be retained back to the company.
  • Boomerang employees may have changed during their time away from the company. They may need to be carefully reintegrated into the company culture in order to be successful.
  • Boomerang employees may not be up-to-date on the latest company policies and procedures. They may need to be trained on these policies and procedures before they can be fully productive.
  • Boomerang employees may not be as willing to take on new challenges as new hires. They may be more comfortable with the status quo and may be resistant to change.

FAQs

Q.1. What is a boomerang employee?

Ans: A boomerang employee is an individual who leaves a company and then returns to work for the same company as a rehired employee. This phenomenon is often referred to as “boomeranging” or “reverse job hopping.”

Q.2. What are the benefits of hiring boomerang employees?

Ans: Companies can benefit from hiring boomerang employees because they often bring back valuable experience and knowledge. They may also be more likely to be engaged and productive than new hires, as they already know the company and its culture.

Q.3. What are the challenges of hiring boomerang employees?

Ans: One challenge of hiring boomerang employees is that they may need to be paid more than they were paid before, as they may have gained new skills and experience while they were away. 

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