Boomerang Employee: The Value of Return in HR Management

The term 'Boomerang Employee' is a recent but increasingly significant concept in human resource management, given today's fast-changing job market. What makes Boomerang Employees important? In this article, Aniday will help you understand the definition of Boomerang Employees and why they matter.

What Is a Boomerang Employee?

A Boomerang Employee is someone who has worked for a company, left, and returned later, which could be after a short or extended period working elsewhere.

Why Are Boomerang Employees Important?

Boomerang Employees are becoming important due to the continuous changes in the job world. Due to rising competition, companies aim to save resources in recruiting and training. Rehiring former employees can offer numerous advantages. Let's delve into these benefits in the following section.

Benefits of Boomerang Employees

Let's take a closer look at the important benefits that accepting Boomerang Employees can bring to an organization:

1. Quick Integration

A key benefit of Boomerang Employees is their rapid integration into the workplace. Former employees already understand the company's culture, processes, and internal dynamics, requiring minimal time to adapt, thereby boosting productivity immediately.

2. Reduced Training Time

Boomerang Employee brings essential company knowledge and skills, reducing training time and resources compared to new hires. This saves the company resources and minimizes the risks associated with hiring potentially mismatched employees.

3. Lower Recruitment Costs

Recruiting new employees can be costly, involving expenses from job advertising to interview processes and background checks. Boomerang Employees have already gone through the recruitment process, allowing the company to reduce these costs when they return.

4. Understanding of Organizational Culture

Boomerang Employees have experienced and understand the company's organizational culture. This helps them easily assimilate and work effectively. They do not require an extended period to adapt to the work environment and can contribute from day one.

Drawback of Boomerang Employees

While Boomerang Employees can offer several benefits, there are also potential drawbacks to consider:

• Limited Fresh Perspectives: Boomerang Employees may bring back the same perspectives and ideas they had before, limiting the introduction of fresh and diverse viewpoints, which can be crucial for innovation and growth.

• Risk of Second Departure: There's a risk that a Boomerang Employee may decide to leave the company again after a short time. This can lead to disruptions and additional recruitment costs.

• Cultural Shift: If the culture of the company has significantly changed since the employee's departure, they may struggle to adapt to the new environment, creating a disconnect between them and the current work culture.

Factors Influencing Boomerang Employees

Three key factors make an employee a Boomerang Employee:

1. Initial Departure Reason

There are various reasons why employees leave initially, ranging from pursuing new career opportunities to dissatisfaction with their current positions. To become a Boomerang Employee, individuals need to ensure that their initial departure is handled professionally and without leaving negative impressions.

2. Experience in Other Companies

Some people may need to gain experience in other companies to develop their skills and knowledge. This can be a part of the journey to becoming a Boomerang Employee, as they bring new experiences and value from their previous workplaces.

3. Alignment Between Employee and Organization

To be a Boomerang Employee, mutual alignment of values, goals, and organizational culture is crucial. If both the employee and the company believe they can collaborate effectively, returning becomes a beneficial decision for both parties.

How Companies Should Consider Accepting Boomerang Employees

Before accepting Boomerang Employees, companies need to carefully evaluate and consider the following:

1. Establish Appropriate Policies

Companies should establish policies and procedures for accepting Boomerang Employees. This includes identifying how to identify and reach out to individuals who have previously worked for the company, as well as outlining the process for reviewing and approving their rehiring.

2. Leverage the Benefits of Returning

Companies should leverage the benefits that Boomerang Employees bring. They can offer new knowledge, different perspectives, and skills developed from previous workplaces. This can enhance diversity and innovation in the workplace.

3. Case-By-Case Evaluation

Companies should evaluate decisions to accept Boomerang Employees on a case-by-case basis. Not all former employees are suitable for a return. It's essential to ensure that such decisions are made based on the mutual benefits for both parties.

How to Attract Boomerang Employees

So, how can companies attract Boomerang Employees? Let's explore the following methods:

• Maintain Good Relationships with Former Employees: To attract Boomerang Employees, companies should maintain positive relationships with former employees. This includes staying in touch, providing information about new job opportunities, and showing interest in their development.

• Create an Appealing Work Environment: Companies should design their work environment to attract and retain talent. This includes fostering a positive organizational culture, offering advancement opportunities, and promoting personal development for employees.

• Provide Career Development Opportunities: A critical factor for Boomerang Employees is career development opportunities. They need to see that returning to the company will be beneficial for their growth. Companies should offer exciting projects, training programs, and career advancement opportunities.

Successful and Unsuccessful Scenarios of Boomerang Employees

To better understand the success and failure of Boomerang Employees, let's examine some real-life examples:

1. Successful and Unsuccessful Scenarios

*Successful Scenario:

In a large tech company, an employee left for a startup in the same industry. After a few years, the startup faced financial issues. The employee decided to return to the original company, bringing valuable knowledge about product development and new markets. They made a significant contribution to the company's growth and recovery.

*Unsuccessful Scenario:

Another unsuccessful scenario is when a Boomerang Employee returns to the company after working elsewhere. They have undergone significant changes in their work style and personal values. They no longer align with the current organizational culture, and their dissatisfaction leads to them leaving the company again shortly after their return.

2. Key Takeaways

From both successful and unsuccessful Boomerang Employee cases, we can draw some valuable lessons:

• Clearly identify the initial departure reason: It's crucial for both the employee and the company to understand why they left initially. If the departure was not due to internal conflicts or dissatisfaction, the return may be more straightforward.

• Create favorable conditions for integration: Companies should provide an environment and conditions that facilitate the quick integration of Boomerang Employees. This may involve reshaping the work environment or providing additional training opportunities.

• Accept change and misalignment: Companies should also recognize when change or misalignment is inevitable. Sometimes, returning may not be the best option for both parties, and accepting this misalignment can be a wise decision.

• Continuous learning: Regardless of the final outcome, every Boomerang Employee case carries valuable lessons. Companies should be prepared to learn from both successful and unsuccessful situations to improve their management of Boomerang Employees in the future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Aniday has provided you with an overview of Boomerang Employees. Business owners and employees should carefully consider these factors to make decisions that are mutually beneficial.