After a wave of layoffs in early 2023, some tech companies are now hiring again.
Companies like Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and Salesforce are in the process of reacquiring talent they once let go. The driving force behind this resurgence is the need for skilled individuals in areas like artificial intelligence.
Salesforce, for instance, intends to recruit 3,000 employees after cutting 10% of its workforce at the outset of the year. CEO Marc Benioff is actively appealing to former employees, even those who secured positions elsewhere, to contemplate returning. The company recently hosted an event to rekindle relationships with former executives, epitomized by the distribution of “boomerang” shirts and stuffed toys.
On the one hand, workers may be hesitant to trust a company that laid them off, especially if the layoffs were poorly handled. On the other hand, workers may be drawn back by the familiarity of the company and the potential for career growth.
Sandra Sucher, a seasoned expert in management practices at Harvard Business School, asserts that companies that mishandled layoffs will face an uphill battle convincing former employees to return. Sucher emphasizes that these returning workers will seek clarity on their career trajectory within the organization, not just for the present moment but for the long term.
The sources for this piece include an article in BusinessInsider.