Did you quit your job during COVID, wanting to get re-hired?

A University of Iowa researcher is studying what he calls “boomerang employees,” those who quit their jobs and later return to their former employers. The phenomenon is surging now as those who left careers during the so-called Great Resignation early in the pandemic are now rethinking their decisions. Chad Van Iddekinge, professor of management and entrepreneurship, says rehiring former workers is something of a safe bet:

“Boomerangs are a known quantity and because of that, they’re thought to be a less risky hire than someone who’s completely new. Boomerangs also tend to require less onboarding and training than first-time hires.”

Still, U-I studies have found boomerang employees are more likely to quit a second time, often for the same reasons they left initially.