What would happen at your organization if you and an employee parted ways and they
then decided one year, two years, three years later that they wanted to come
back?
At Kahler Slater, not only do they accept employees back (the good ones of course)
but they believe that having a strong employee come back is reason to
celebrate. John Horky, theHR Guy, creates for each
one of these employees a boomerang and presents it to them during a staff
meeting withtheir very own “Sacred Boomerang
Ceremony”.
Imagine,
a celebration where the entire company is gatheredto
welcome an employee back into the fold. They present the boomerang, tell
everyone what the employee has been doing since he/she left, and celebrate them
coming back to the company.
I
think this Sacred Boomerang Ceremony is genius. Here’s why:
It’s a perfect example of over-communicating in order to stop
the rumor mill from flying. By saying, “Joe is back and we’re happy to have
him,” it eliminates that awkward interaction when Joe runs into employees who
know he once quit and is now back.It sends a very clear message to an employee who is leaving
that Kahler Slater doesn’t have hard feelings over their departure, that they
want to continue the relationship they have together, and that in the future
they might work together again.It embraces the fact that when a good employee is ready to
come back they are bringing with them a broad range of experiences they
couldn’t have had if they’d stayed put. Having a new vantage point could
revitalize the way Kahler Slater does business.It’s a great way to recruit talent without having to wonder
what they’re really like. These “boomerang” employees were the best of
the best when you had them and you already know what they’re like to work with,
where they need to improve, etc. It makes for a very low-risk hire.The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. When an employee leaves, realizes they’re missing out on a good thing, and comes back, it not only reminds that employee to appreciate what your company has to offer, but it reminds current employees as well.
For
those of you who are familiar with my posts, you probably already know that I
have major culture crush on Kahler Slater and this ceremony is just one more
thing that makes them the object of my affection.
Do you have examples of other “boomerang” programs companies are doing to welcome employees back?
Does
your company do anything quirky/fun that helps add to your culture? If so,
email your story to Marisa@marisakeegan.com
and your company might be featured on a future blog post.
I’ve always loved having employees come back because of the points here — especially the fact that it shows that “the grass isn’t always greener,” that we’re considered a desirable workplace by someone who knows for sure, and that we’re getting a known quantity.
What a great idea! Usually, I would think coming back to a company after leaving would be a bit awkward, but this ceremony/celebration is not only for the individual, but of the company’s ability to attract high-quality employees.
Kudos to whomever came up with this idea!
I think welcoming good employees back is very smart – except for the actual boomerang, which is a bit silly – and I’m surprised more companies don’t keep open ties with alumni.
Curios about the photo. Are those little rubber chickens glued on to the boomerang. Gives me the sense the boomerang is, or could be, personalized. And that is cool. I have a crush on Kahler Slater too…
Fabulous post, Marisa. I love the example of Kahler Slater’s efforts to make the onboarding experience of boomerang rehires a special (and validating) one.
As the HR Guy (actual title), I can offer a few insights. The boomerangs are intentionally low tech, as is a homemade gift one gives to a family member, and each one is unique to the returning employee’s story. The one pictured was for Megan, who had shared at her first introduction in an all-staff meeting (another fun interaction) she had been crowned the “Chicken Dance Champion” at a State Fair. That boomerang pretty much “wrote itself” when she later returned to work with us. Some other boomerang designs have sported a yin yang paint scheme, a Darth Vader voice recording and a mini-bottle of Southern Comfort. (If you think these sound silly, you should experience the Sacred Ceremony!) And thank you Marisa for articulating so clearly why this works!
We’re all blushing about your ‘major culture crush’ on us, Marisa. Thank you.
I’m a 3EO of Kahler Slater (there are three of us who share the office of CEO, believe it or not) and I’m really proud of this tradition. Of all the things and ways we celebrate, none is an official program or a policy that came down from on-high. They are all authentic and organic expressions – a topic I go into great length about in my book “Better Make it Real.” Pretty cool.
a new generation travels the 200 some miles once a year to the place that my Grandma and Grandpa starting going to in the 50′s. My cousins and their kids. People I only see once a year
What a great idea! In general, I think the company after the departure would be a little difficult, but a ceremony / party is not only the individual but the company’s ability to attract quality employees.