60% of UAE workers willing to go back to ex-employers

Dubai: Nearly 60 per cent of UAE workers would consider heading back to their previous employer if offered the right package. At the same time, more employers are laying a focus on re-hires where needed.

But here’s the catch - the survey from recruitment consultancy Michael Page uncovered that 57 per cent of employees polled were unaware of company return programs. This confirms the fact that companies need to promote them better and look at re-hiring as part of their recruiting strategy. And 26 per cent of respondents said they have either taken a position with one of their former employers or would consider doing so if the opportunity arose.

The ‘Michael Page 2023 Salary Guide and Hiring Insights’ draws insights from quarterly surveys the company runs with its candidates throughout the year. Jon Ede, Regional Director at Michael Page, says, “Hiring sentiment is strong in the UAE. Based on market confidence and therefore more aggressive growth and diversification plans, organisations shifted up a gear and their appetite to invest in attracting top talent increased significantly.

We have also seen a significant return to foreign investments with businesses looking to expand their international footprint into the UAE.

- on Ede, Regional Director at Michael Page

“We have also seen a significant return to foreign investments with businesses looking to expand their international footprint into the UAE.”

Is re-hiring a good idea?

Hiring managers in today’s recruitment market are firing up every tool they have, including re-hiring former employees with a significant pay hike. In a competitive hiring market, companies can’t afford to ‘forget’ about talented employees who leave on good terms and who could be tempted to return if the opportunity arose, says Ede.

Moreover, hiring experts and job seekers have said businesses have several incentives to re-hire former employees, namely saving time and money on saving on onboarding and getting a person up to speed to fill a vacancy. The survey also said 52 per cent disagreed with the statement

that candidate should never go back, and a slight majority (58 per cent) thought that, in the end, returning was a win-win solution for companies and their former employees.

Why leave in the first place?

About 43 per cent of surveyed felt they had reached their limit in that position and wished to acquire more responsibilities and boost their career development. And 31 per cent were looking for a change — a new job title or career, a different sector, etc. Other factors include a desire for improved salary and benefits, a feeling of not sharing their current company’s values, and personal reasons.

Ede adds: “Some employees have aspirations that simply can’t be satisfied by their current employer.”

What can companies do to change that? They can retain these workers by fast-tracking their career development and offering improved compensation packages.

However, if an employee wants to change industries altogether or needs to leave for personal reasons, there’s little a company can do to stop them.