Boomerang Employees

Who are boomerang employees?

A boomerang employee is an employee who leaves an organization and then returns to work there after a certain period. The employee may have left for personal or professional reasons. Many organizations favour hiring back boomerang employees. It helps organizations minimize the costs associated with onboarding a completely new employee who is unfamiliar with the company culture and background.

Why do some former employees choose to return to their previous workplace?

Familiarity and Comfort: Many boomerang employees who return to their previous workplaces report that the familiar work environment is a key factor in their decision. Knowing the established processes and having familiar colleagues and management can make it easier for them to adjust compared to starting fresh at a new company.

Lack of Career Advancement Opportunities: More than half of employees who leave one company for another and then return to their previous company say their new workplace didn't prioritize their career development goals. They found their previous role to be more fulfilling in this regard.

Positive Company Culture: Some boomerang employees may have missed the positive company culture that prevailed at their former company, compared to the entirely new or less positive culture at their new workplace. Modern employees value more than just salary. They prioritize strong work relationships, a healthy work-life balance, and a positive company culture with values and a mission they believe in.

Offer of enhanced salary package: Many organizations only realize the value of some employees after they have left. The vacuum they leave behind may prompt the employer to try to win them back with better financial incentives. If the employee finds these incentives more promising than what their new employer offers, they might decide to return.

Change in Personal Situations: Part of the reason some people leave jobs is due to changes in their life situations. Over time, these situations can revert back to how they were previously. For example, an employee might leave an organization after getting married. Later, if their spouse finds a job in the same location where the employee used to work, the employee could inquire with their former employer about the possibility of rejoining.