Rehiring former employees may not be the first choice of many recruiters. However, during the Great Resignation, when employers are chasing employees, rehiring former employees who show a willingness to work with you again may not be a bad idea.

There are both advantages and disadvantages of rehiring former employees as with any recruitment decision. Let’s take a detailed look at both so you can decide what can work best for your organization.

Rehiring Disadvantages

Before we look at the advantages, let’s take a look at the rehiring disadvantages:

Lingering Past Issues

Before you consider rehiring, pull the old records to see the employee’s performance record, the reason for leaving your organization, and how they left. You may also find their record of misunderstandings, miscommunication, or disputes with other employees.

When looking at past records, consider that the employee could have been bullied or had other issues. Investigating their current position and image in the industry can also help you decide if you should rehire.

High Chances of Them Leaving Again

Another rehiring disadvantage is the obvious high chance of the former employee leaving your organization once more. Looking at their reason for leaving in their record or having an honest conversation about their plans can help you decide if you want to take that risk.

Their Attitude Could be Laid Back

The former employee, if rehired, can act like an old employee. Even if the rest of the team doesn’t know them, they can behave as if they know the work culture or work methods better than everyone else. This attitude can easily become a rehiring disadvantage. However, informing the rehired employee during the interview that they will be treated as a new employee can inform them of your expectations.

Rehiring Advantages

Don’t make up your mind by reading rehiring disadvantages alone. Let’s take a look at how rehiring former employees can benefit your organization:

Clear Expectations

While rehiring disadvantages threaten a laid-back attitude, rehiring advantage includes clear expectations from the start. Depending on the employee’s attitude, you may find rehiring more beneficial with enhanced communication.

Familiarity

Familiarity with former employees is another rehiring advantage. You may already know their work ethic and strengths and weaknesses as an employee. On the other hand, they will also be aware of the work culture and methods.

While your organization’s work culture and work methods may have also evolved, the former employee may have grown into a better professional and learned more about the industry from their experience of working at other places.

Greater Motivation

Getting rehired by a past employer can be significantly motivating. Employees may feel more confident in their abilities and trust their relationship with the organization even more than before. The trust and motivation can encourage them to push themselves professionally and benefit your organization with everything they have learned while being away from it.

Hence, both the rehiring advantages and disadvantages depend on the person you consider rehiring and the relationship they shared with the organization when they worked in the past. As an employer, you shouldn’t be afraid to rehire former employees as there’s an equal chance that it can be beneficial for your organization. Moreover, it will also create a good impression on newer employees as it will help them see the organization as a place that believes in second chances.