Going back to an ex may be taboo in the dating world, but not so much in the workplace. Returning to a former employer known as boomeranging is having a moment.
Boomerang workers have been on the rise over the past three years as more people regretted joining the Great Resignation and companies seek to fill their talent shortages. It’s a move that could work for everyone involved — except for the newer employer, who will be left in the dust.
But a new analysis published in the Harvard Business Review which examined three million employee records at over 120 “company sizes” between 2019 and 2022, sheds light on three key reasons why employees boomerang, which may help you determine if this is about to happen.
First, employees felt that their new organization failed to deliver on the promises they made or the expectations they set when they were hired, such as:
“Whether explicit working conditions were not met or employees felt a violation of their psychological contract (i.e., the unspoken, assumed agreements between worker and employer), employees who felt betrayed by their new organization were particularly likely to return to their old one” HBR wrote.
Second, the workers simply missed their co-workers. The more they maintained strong social ties with their old peers, the more likely they were to boomerang. And the third: money, of course. Boomerang employees earn an average of 25% more when they return.
On the employer side, boomerang jobs might be just as desirable; They mostly already know their stuff and cost less to recruit than recruiting for months.
In hindsight clearer
People have spent the last two years leaving their jobs in droves in search of greener pastures that would offer better pay, flexibility and more meaningful work. If her new appearance doesn’t live up to her promises, her last employer might not look so bad after all.
According to a February 2023 study by payroll firm Paychex, 80% of workers who have quit since 2020 regret it. Those who switched industries were also 25% more likely to count themselves as members of the Great Regret than those who stayed in their profession.
“We’re seeing more and more job seekers prioritizing work-life balance and a positive workplace culture over higher rewards,” said Andrew Crapuchettes, CEO of Idaho-based recruitment agency Red Balloon wealth. “People want to be happy at work, and the old adage ‘money doesn’t buy happiness’ is reflected in this survey.”
An April 2022 report by software company UKG found that over 40% of Great Resigners regretted resignation. In fact, 20% of respondents already had boomerangs at the time of the survey.
However, employers can prevent this by being honest and consistent. Giving candidates a realistic picture of the job has long been recognized as effective in reducing turnover, the researchers wrote HBR. The same applies to the regular implementation of “residence talks” in order to bridge any misunderstandings at an early stage.
One big asterisk, though: Boomerang employees should never be given preferential treatment over existing employees, despite all the fanfare.
“Nothing saps trust and commitment like reinstating a former employee at a higher salary while those who stay don’t get a pay adjustment or opportunity for advancement.” HBR reads. “Similarly, when employers shower new hires (who tend to boomerang) with retention incentives while overlooking long-serving employees, even the most loyal are likely to be angered.”
Source : fortune.com