Most companies open to rehiring laid-off workers

A study released Tuesday by Right Management has found that organizations are rehiring former employees because they are familiar with the job and understand the culture.

Only 10% of more than 1,000 employers surveyed said they don’t rehire past employees. 

Additional research from Right Management found that 18% of laid-off workers are rehired by their former employer, because they are familiar with the job (37%); understand the culture (33%); and minimize the likelihood of a bad hire (20%). Ten percent of employers have a policy against hiring back former employees.

“Despite continuing layoffs, organizations are facing a very real talent mismatch,” said Melvin Scales, senior VP 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.”

Organizations may look to rehire past employees to respond to market opportunities as the economy rebounds, noted Scales. “Some employers are currently hiring back past employees because they realize they may have cut too deep with the last round of layoffs.”

Right Management is the talent- and career-management arm within employment-services provider Manpower.