Has anyone ever gone back to a firm and worked for them full time after being made redundant by the same firm some years earlier?
Let me explain,
3 years ago I was made redundant from the law firm I worked for. I understood the reasons why, I accepted it, moved on but I made a point never to slag them off as I still did the occasional bit of work for them on a freelance basis, and I still recommended new clients as I know/know they will be looked after properly.
Anyway, on Friday, I get a phone call from my old boss out of the blue asking me if I would like to go back and work for them full time? I won't go into semantics, but it would be in simple terms doing my old job, but also assisting a new department, but it would be covering the whole of the UK rather than just England and Wales as well as some overseas work.
The starting package would be better then I was on when I left, (which was very good money even then) I would get a car of my choice, (within reason and which I didn't get before)), I will manage my own diary and it will be a combination of working from home as well as the office, I would not need to serve any probationary period, my pension would continue as it did before, and I would get paid an annual bonus.
I like the company, I like the people, and I have kept in touch with many of them, but in the back of my mind there is something saying that you should never go back, even though assurances have been made regarding the possibility of being made redundant again in the future.
But on the other side of the coin, although I enjoy the job I am currently in, although I don't like the politics, I don't feel they are paying me what I am worth (I cover the UK including the RoI) even though I have raised the issue, I do have a car but I don't get any bonus or overtime for often doing 15 hour days, but there is a certain degree of security, I like some of the people and I was not particularly looking to change jobs.
But this has come out of the blue, and I have to say I am very tempted, I suppose I have been headhunted, and I am very flattered that my old boss and colleagues want me back.
Has anyone else ever been in this situation or had this dilema? Thoughts?
Employment Dilema!
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BikerGran
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I've never been in this situation but my knee-jerk reaction without really thinking about it is that if you have an instinct that it's not a good idea to go back, maybe you should listen to your intuition?
Or you could make two lists - one list of the 'pro' points, and one of the 'anti', and see which list is longer. If the pro list is longer, is the difference enough to overcome your instinct?
The other thing is, looking at the question from my age which is now 60 - should you miss an opportunity as they become few and far between as you get older?
Sorry, you were looking for answers and I've given you more questions - but I hope they may be helpful.
Or you could make two lists - one list of the 'pro' points, and one of the 'anti', and see which list is longer. If the pro list is longer, is the difference enough to overcome your instinct?
The other thing is, looking at the question from my age which is now 60 - should you miss an opportunity as they become few and far between as you get older?
Sorry, you were looking for answers and I've given you more questions - but I hope they may be helpful.
The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young.
Hi TC,
We have re-employed people that have left for one reason or another (although they had not been made redundant).
Some have come back and left again - although I think it was personal circumstances rather than job issues that led to them moving on again. I don't know the full details of those as they were in other departments.
There are at least a couple that are still with us and it's working fine. One is in a fairly different role to his previous employment and is in a different department.
The other is in my department. He works in a very similar role to that which he left - although he now reports to someone who previously reported to him (I promoted the other chap during the period that the person I re-employed was not with us). It is working fine.
Not to say our experiences guarantee it will work for everyone but in the right circumstances, with the right company and the right team of people it certainly can work.
The offer you've been given sounds attractive and your former employer must believe it can work - however you need to satisfy yourself that it can.
My view would be that it's worth exploring further - then the decision is down to you.
We have re-employed people that have left for one reason or another (although they had not been made redundant).
Some have come back and left again - although I think it was personal circumstances rather than job issues that led to them moving on again. I don't know the full details of those as they were in other departments.
There are at least a couple that are still with us and it's working fine. One is in a fairly different role to his previous employment and is in a different department.
The other is in my department. He works in a very similar role to that which he left - although he now reports to someone who previously reported to him (I promoted the other chap during the period that the person I re-employed was not with us). It is working fine.
Not to say our experiences guarantee it will work for everyone but in the right circumstances, with the right company and the right team of people it certainly can work.
The offer you've been given sounds attractive and your former employer must believe it can work - however you need to satisfy yourself that it can.
My view would be that it's worth exploring further - then the decision is down to you.
im a contracs manager and left in september after a fall out with the boss, i started with a new company and i brought some clients work with me probibly totaling 150k a year work load, my old boss found out i was doing there work, and his profits are down and had to lat some guys go ,
i have learned over the years to look after number one, and the guys that lost there jobs ...well i will be starting them with me soon so the only guy that lost there was him ,
on saying that the other director wants me back but he canafordme now ,
i dont bad mouth companys as its a small world and you never know when you might need them thers always two ways to skin a cat, thats life
i have learned over the years to look after number one, and the guys that lost there jobs ...well i will be starting them with me soon so the only guy that lost there was him ,
on saying that the other director wants me back but he canafordme now ,
i dont bad mouth companys as its a small world and you never know when you might need them thers always two ways to skin a cat, thats life
I work for a large construction company, & our policy is to re-recruit former employees whenever we get the chance.
Reasoning being;
1. They generally left to progress their careers faster, showing initiative.
2. They already know how the company works, so will integrate faster.
3. They know exactly what to expect & are obviously prepared for it, so are more likely to stay second time around.
Reasoning being;
1. They generally left to progress their careers faster, showing initiative.
2. They already know how the company works, so will integrate faster.
3. They know exactly what to expect & are obviously prepared for it, so are more likely to stay second time around.
Never been in the situation, but i'd go thru the contract with a fine tooth comb, ensuring something is formally written in regards redundancy and any terms for it.. obviously you dictating said terms.. you're being headhunted, they dance to your tune. you're clearly the expert they need.
if they dont go for it, simply remind them
if they dont go for it, simply remind them
3 years ago I was made redundant from the law firm I worked for. I understood the reasons why, I accepted it, moved on but I made a point never to slag them off as I still did the occasional bit of work for them on a freelance basis, and I still recommended new clients as I know/know they will be looked after properly.
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly
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TC
The wife is fine with it and will support whatever decision I make. The whole crux of the dilema is that there was genuinely nothing I disliked about the job before, I was made redundant simply because of the economics of accident management firms undercutting proper law firms and insurers refusing to appoint properly qualified solicitors and this obviously affected how much new business was coming in.Samray wrote:Which job might you be more use to me in?
Tis an old wives tale that going back to a job never works out.
Was there anything about the old job that you didn't like?
What is Mrs TC's opinion.
When you gonna start?
The good thing about going back is as mentioned that I know the firm, and although I will still be doing some of the work I was doing before, much of it will be in a different area of accident investigation which is the growing part of the group, so it would give me an opportunity to learn new skills in a different area of law.
If I accept the offer, I have to serve a months notice, but I am away all of next week, so it will be the week after next before I have to make a decision and if I accept it will be probably mid to late February before I start.
Thanks for your thoughts everyone, it has been a help, I will let you know my decision in due course.
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Tweaker
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A bit late to this one - as always - but FWIW, I took VR from my old company and 'retired' for just over a year. Then, as in your case, I was asked to go back. I've opted to be employed on a contract basis which suits me better and seems to suit my employer as I've been here almost 2 years now 
If you enjoyed your old job, the people and your happy with the package and work being offered, why wouldn't you go back? In my experience, the ones who say 'Never go back' are the ones who haven't been asked!!
Good luck whatever you decide.
If you enjoyed your old job, the people and your happy with the package and work being offered, why wouldn't you go back? In my experience, the ones who say 'Never go back' are the ones who haven't been asked!!
Good luck whatever you decide.
Re: Employment Dilema!
I've been in this situation, and I've recruited people into this situation, and I know many people who have done it over the years.
Being headhunted is rare. Being headhunted by an old firm is solid gold for your CV. Nothing could boost your credibility more. But saying that - Given that your credibility is already top of the game, what more do you need?
It should work to explain your motivations to your old boss, and say that it needs to be a fresh challenge, a forward move rather than going back.
Being headhunted is rare. Being headhunted by an old firm is solid gold for your CV. Nothing could boost your credibility more. But saying that - Given that your credibility is already top of the game, what more do you need?
It should work to explain your motivations to your old boss, and say that it needs to be a fresh challenge, a forward move rather than going back.
I know what you mean, but I'd ask for a secretary. You'll probably get one.TC wrote:I will manage my own diary.
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TC
Well! The written confirmation and offer arrived today, and what a shock 
When they asked me what sort of salary I would like, I put 5K on what I currently get thinking that it nwill either put them off and subsequently I won't have a decision to make, or they will say fine when can you start? Which would have left me with a real dilema.
They have not got anywhere near the 5K extra I suggested, they have gone straight in at 13K extra plus car plus bonuses. Bit of a no brainer really, I think my resignation will be going in early next week
Looks like I am going back to the legal profession
When they asked me what sort of salary I would like, I put 5K on what I currently get thinking that it nwill either put them off and subsequently I won't have a decision to make, or they will say fine when can you start? Which would have left me with a real dilema.
They have not got anywhere near the 5K extra I suggested, they have gone straight in at 13K extra plus car plus bonuses. Bit of a no brainer really, I think my resignation will be going in early next week
Looks like I am going back to the legal profession
