Can re-hiring former employees be a good thing?

The UK has been facing a skills shortage for some time now and unfortunately, this is an issue that doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.

If you’re sick of leaving job postings empty or making the wrong hires in a desperate attempt to fill a role, re-hiring former employees could be a perfectly logical solution. Can there really be any benefit to taking someone back who chose to leave your organisation however?

They know the business

One of the biggest benefits of re-hiring employees is that they already know the business. This means you know they’ll fit in with the culture, they’re already trained on systems and procedures and they’ll be able to hit the ground running much quicker than someone who is completely new to the organisation.

Improved loyalty

If someone has left once before, your biggest concern is likely to be that they’ll move on again. If the employee in question quit after just a few months, then these feelings are probably justified. If someone was with you for a long time however, it’s perfectly justifiable for them to accept a new challenge so you shouldn’t hold this against them.

Re-hires do in fact tend to become more loyal and dedicated to an organisation because they’re grateful for the second chance and to be part of the culture once again. You’re also safe in the knowledge that your old employer obviously feels like your company is a better fit for them than any other.

Improved performance

Good employees typically move on because they want to get better at their job through a promotion or better training opportunities. In the time they’ve been away, they will have gained even more experience, improved their skills and worked with lots of new people which will all help to make them even better at their job.

Boosts morale

When you give a past employee a second chance, other employees will realise they’re working for a company that’s willing to reconsider re-hiring without harbouring any resentful feelings.

While you obviously don’t want to promote a culture of encouraging people to leave and then come back if they don’t like their new job, the odd re-hire reminds current employees what a great employer you are if people are willing to come back. This can improve morale in the workplace which will also increase productivity as a result.

If you are considering bringing someone back on board, here are some great tips for hiring returners which should ensure a seamless transition.

If you need help attracting great talent to your organisation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Choralis Consulting and we’ll be more than happy to help.