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Former staffers want to return? Pros, cons of hiring boomerang employees

June 2025 employment law letter
Authors: 

Tammy Binford

Not all goodbyes are forever. Sometimes employees are quick to jump on a new opportunity at a new employer only to long for the good old days back at their old workplace. Rehiring a former employee can be good for both the employer and the employee, but bringing back those returning, or “boomerang,” employees also can backfire.

Pros of hiring boomerang employees

Employees leave for many reasons, and they have just as many reasons for wanting to come back. Sometimes people don’t realize how good they have it at one employer until they leave for another.

In other cases, they don’t want to leave a job at all but must because of life circumstances. Then when those circumstances change, they want to return.

Often, employers are eager to roll out the welcome mat because they can benefit from taking a worker back. For example:

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