Dive Brief:
- There's a new type of candidate circling the hiring pool: the boomerang employee.
- In the first study released in The Employee Engagement Lifecycle Series commissioned by The Workforce Institute at Kronos Inc., survey data shows a changing mindset about hiring boomerang employees - i.e. someone who left an organization, for whatever reason, and then rejoined that same organization at a later date.
- Based on the survey data, nearly half of HR professionals claim their organization previously had a policy against rehiring former employees -- even if the employee left in good standing. Yet 76% say they are more accepting of hiring boomerang employees today than in the past. Managers agree, as nearly two-thirds say they are now more accepting of boomerangs.
Dive Insight:
David Almeda, chief people officer at Kronos, said that no one organization is the right fit for every employee and vice versa. Sometimes making a change is the best thing for both the employee and the employer.
But, he adds, the survey data shows that it's mutually beneficial for highly engaged employees with outstanding performance and organizations with strong cultures to part ways in good standing.
"The best boomerang strategy for forward-thinking organizations is to ensure that employees are engaged and feel appreciated while at work," he said. "That way, if employees decide to leave to explore other career options, the organization will be on the short list of employer options if their career situation changes and they are looking for a more positive opportunity."
