Trend spotted: returning to your old job

It's a bit of an adjustment, but we can now go back to the office to work. Perhaps most people are still partly working from home, but at least the Friday afternoon drinks are allowed again, and that's quite nice. I can also imagine that some people switched jobs during the pandemic. After all, we had plenty of time to think about our lives, so perhaps this was the right moment for many to finally take that step and look for a new challenge.

But what turns out? The pandemic has also contributed to people returning to their old jobs. These people are also called ‘boomerang employees’. LinkedIn conducted research on this and discovered that 4.5 percent of the ‘newly’ hired people in 2021 went back to their old employer on the platform. In 2019, that was only 3.9 percent, so there has been a clear increase here.

According to the Financial Times, this is due to the mandatory remote work, which certainly didn't make starting a job any easier. After all, entering a new position at home alone is quite a challenge. Moreover, it is almost impossible to build a good relationship with your colleagues. Because let's be honest: those virtual drinks were really pure misery, right? So it's very understandable that the transition to a new job turned out differently for many than expected.

Returning to your old job is certainly not a bad idea, especially if you were actually quite happy there. It's also quite convenient: you don't have to be trained again and you know everyone, so it feels like coming home. And at least you tried it, so you can park that ‘what if’ feeling for a while.

According to Anthony Klotz, associate professor of management at Texas A&M University, this ‘boomerang employee trend’ will continue for a while. He predicts that in the next five years, even more people will return to their old jobs. So if you're considering knocking on your old boss's door again but find it somewhat awkward? Don't worry, you're not the only boomerang.

(source: Marie Claire)