9 in 10 Companies Are Open to Rehiring Laid Off Workers
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9 in 10 Companies Are Open to Rehiring Laid Off Workers
Press Release Date: 24 Nov 2009
Press Release Type: CORPORATE
Philadelphia, PA – November 24, 2009 – Organizations are rehiring former employees because they are familiar with the job and understand the culture, according to a study released by Right Management. Only 10% of over 1,000 employers surveyed said they don’t rehire past employees. Right Management is the talent and career management expert within Manpower, the global leader in employment services.
Additional research from Right Management found that 18% of laid off workers are rehired by their former employer. Why:
- 37% - Familiarity with the job
- 33% - Understand the organization’s culture
- 20% - Minimizes the likelihood of a bad hire
- 10% - Do not hire back former employees
“Despite continuing layoffs, organizations are facing a very real talent mismatch,” said Melvin Scales, Senior Vice President at Right Management. “While the potential labor pool may have expanded recently, these workers don’t necessarily have the skills or experience some employers need to deliver on business goals. Our parent company, Manpower, identified that as many as 19% of US employers are currently having difficulty filling positions due to lack of suitable talent.”
Organizations may look to rehire past employees to respond to market opportunities as the economy rebounds, notes Scales. “Some employers are currently hiring back past employees because they realize they may have cut too deep with the last round of layoffs. Our outplacement candidates are being rehired by their former employers on contract or project assignments to complete critical or time-sensitive initiatives. Their ramp up time is minimal and they can start to make an impact almost immediately given their prior experience with the organization.”
Scales advises job seekers (PDF) not to burn bridges with past employers. “It’s a competitive employment market and maintaining positive networking relationships can really give candidates an edge. Maintain contact with former colleagues and nurture the relationship as you do with other networking contacts…in a way that adds value for both parties. Our research proves that cultivating these relationships can be beneficial for both the individual and the employer over time.”
Right Management surveyed 1,161 employers between July 18 and September 17, 2009 via an online poll.
About Right Management
Right Management is the talent and career management expert within Manpower, the global leader in employment services. Right Management helps clients win in the changing world of work by designing and executing workforce solutions that align talent strategy with business strategy. Our expertise spans Talent Assessment, Leader Development, Organizational Effectiveness, Employee Engagement, and Workforce Transition and Outplacement. With offices in over 50 countries, Right Management partners with companies of all sizes. More than 80% of Fortune 500 companies are currently working with us to help them grow talent, reduce costs and accelerate performance.
Contact:
Helene Cavalli, Right Management – 215.640.7141 or helene.cavalli@right.com.