Why do people return to their previous job after working for another company for several months or years? After 111 employees returned to the company since 2019, the technology company Wise decided to conduct its own research and find out what motivated people to return. The study by the global IT company Wise revealed that it is memories of healthy working relationships that bring people back to their previous job. Employees who left the company, worked elsewhere, and returned after some time are called "boomerangs". This trend has become increasingly evident after the pandemic. According to some studies, up to 40% of former employees are willing to consider returning to their previous workplace. For example, since 2019, the technology company Wise, which employs more than 5,500 people in total, has had 111 boomerang employees, almost half of whom are in Estonia. Most often, people return to their previous job after a year (60%) or two (33.3%). “Employees who have worked for another company for several months or years, in other words ‘boomerangs’, bring new knowledge and a fresh perspective to solving familiar problems, which certainly contributes to the development of the company,” says Brett Lemsalu, Senior HR Consultant at Wise. Employees most often named three reasons for changing jobs: taking a career break (40%), gaining experience in another industry (33%) or at another fintech company (27%). Other reasons for leaving varied: caring for elderly parents, a better job offer, visa requirements, the opportunity to study abroad, and there were those who wanted to gain experience in a different place simply because Wise was their first company. According to the survey, the main motivators for returning to their previous job were a friendly work environment, internal culture and good relationships between team members. Many returning employees explained that they took good working relationships for granted during their time with the company, and it was this factor that ultimately motivated them to return. The study also found that work-life balance is key for employees who choose to build a long-term career with one company. “Employees are looking for a stable career where they can learn new skills but do not have to deal with issues after work or during vacation,” says Lemsalu. She notes that flexible work arrangements – working from home, trust in remote employees, family benefits (such as the possibility of extended parental leave) – are an important part of the work culture. Of course, joint events and the fact that friendships are encouraged and supported at work help to maintain a good work culture. Employees value a calm work environment where toxic competition is discouraged and cooperation is promoted instead. Wise’s research also shows that employees are attracted to goals and values that benefit not only the company’s founders, but also people around the world. “Employees don’t come back because of beautifully written company values that no one remembers in their daily work. Clearly defined work goals and objectives help to implement them in real life. This is our foundation. If it is stronger than that of competitors, then employees are ready to come back,” Lemsalu explains. According to her, it is important to trust employees when making decisions, to give them responsibility and to allow them to act independently. For example, it is important to give developers the opportunity to adapt products to customer needs, since employees are the ones who directly interact with the client. Ultimately, it is good memories of healthy working relationships and a supportive environment that make employees return to their previous company. Simply put, you need to create a work culture that people will miss. Read RusDelfi wherever it is convenient for you. Follow us on Facebook, Telegram, Instagram and even TikTok.
