With reference to the article, "Firms throwing their doors open to boomerang employees" (September 21), time was when one retired from the same organisation (such as a bank or a government department) that one joined, on reaching superannuation. Nowadays, attrition is a major problem faced by companies. Although employees may leave organisations due to unfair appraisal as well as higher cost to company, better role and prospects elsewhere or even due to peer pressure, one important reason is the lack of behavioural integrity among managers. As the saying goes, 'Employees don't leave organisations, they leave managers'.
However after taking up a new job, some employees realise it was a case of distant pastures looking greener and begin to suffer pangs of separation, even wondering if they could go back to the previous company. It is here that companies need to take a pragmatic view and welcome back the good performers, instead of shutting the doors on them. Besides, when a company takes back a boomerang employee, it means reduced training cost and having someone, who by way of being familiar with the company's work culture, is productive from day one. As for the returning employees, having explored other options they assuredly perform better. The result is a win-win situation for both employee and company.
V Jayaraman, Oregon
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