Would I hire someone that was previously fired from our company? Possibly, but most likely not.
As a general rule it is not a good path to go down, although there are circumstances when it makes sense. If an employee was not a fit for your organization in the past, people do not change that much and even though time has passed, they are probably still not a fit.
If an individual is fired due to performance, attitude, demeanor or ability, then I would absolutely not recommend a rehire. If there are other reasons such as a layoff not due to their performance, then a rehire might be a good option.
There are many factors to consider when thinking about a rehire. Are you simply considering a rehire because you are desperately short-staffed? Bad answer. Have you thought about the long-term effects of your decision? How would the rehire decision affect the rest of your staff? Here are some pros and cons to a rehire:
Cons
- People typically do not change
- It could affect the morale of other employees if you rehire someone that did not fit in with the team prior. They will not understand your reasoning.
- If not a lot of time has passed old baggage from previous dealings will resurface
- If your organization has changed certain policies and procedures the rehire might be resistant to new changes
- Having to fire a person twice. I am sure it wasn't easy the first time; the second would be just as difficult.
Pros
- Rehires know your company's culture and expectations
- Rehires can hit productivity much quicker as they are familiar with the culture, equipment and crop cycles
- If the rehire was laid off previously due to production slow down, the rehire could boost morale as other employees will know they are working for a company that is trying to bring back employees
- Retention can be higher the second time around because the employee knows exactly what they are signing up for in the job and the company
When individuals have voluntarily left your organization and want to return, there is a lot to think about with that decision. If they thought it wasn't a fit for them before, returning does not make sense for them or the business. I would only consider a rehire from a voluntary leave if that individual left on extremely good terms and there was a good reason for their leaving.
Having the right person in the right job is as important to your profitability as it is to have the right equipment in place for each field operation. Think hard before you make a decision on a rehire.
Have questions? Email me at lori@agprovise.com