Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Better the devil you know? Not for secretarial staff

Less than a third would work for an ex-employer

A snapshot survey of 128 secretarial staff on behalf of office support recruiter la crème has found that less than a third (31%) would consider working for an ex employer. This is despite recent research that says that ‘boomerang hiring’ - as it is known - is on the increase.

“Obviously in a skill short market, employers are looking at new and different ways of filling their vacancies and ex-employees are a logical pool of potential talent,” says Jo Stuteley Director of la crème, but it can be risky, particularly if their original reasons for leaving have not really been addressed”

Of the secretarial staff questioned, just under a quarter (23%) had worked for the same employer more than once but this was often on a temporary basis. Of those that had returned to a permanent job with the same employer, sentiment was mixed: “I found it difficult for my team to take me seriously as they saw me as indecisive – it made returning a complete disaster and I only stayed a couple of months”, said one respondent while another commented: “It was ok – and good to be back with my old team - but in the end it was really a comfort zone and my reasons for leaving in the 1st place – a lack of career development opportunities- soon resurfaced.”

Stuteley’s advice to employers is to examine anyone’s reasons for leaving through detailed exit interviews. “It’s really important to ascertain whether this is an issue that can be addressed – if it can, it’s going to help retention rates – and you may end up keeping your best staff rather than trying to rehire them.

Sam Woodward
BlueSky PR
0845 130 8290
sam@bluesky-pr.net
www.bluesky-pr.net