Boomerang hires are highly valuable. Don’t insult them by paying them less

‘Employees are not auto parts, cans of beans or construction materials where negotiating the lowest cost is encouraged.’ Photograph: rudi_suardi/Getty Images

Say you’re running a business and you bump into a favored former employee and find out she’s interested in coming back to work for you. Is your first thought: “What a great opportunity to pay her less?” And if so, what is wrong with you?

Boomerang hires – those workers who work for a company, leave the company, then come back to the company – can be extremely valuable. What’s curious is how many of my clients don’t seem to realize this.