An employee engagement consultancy says UK businesses must have the right offboarding practices in place as it predicts ‘boomerang employees’ will overrun the labour market once ‘The Great Resignation’ is over.

scarlettabbott has made the prediction as part of the highly-anticipated launch of its World Changers Report 2022. It believes the job market will become flooded with former colleagues who moved roles during ‘The Great Resignation’ due to pressure, burnout and changing priorities during the pandemic - but return to previous roles. 

According to a recent survey of 2,000 UK employees at the end of 2021, three out of four are considering handing in their notice in 2022. 

Compounded by the pandemic, a distinct change in employee perspective on their career has caused a ripple effect across the workplace, and one of the key themes scarlettabbott’s report focuses on is the importance of alumni ambassadors and how businesses must nurture relationships with former colleagues if they are to attract both new and returning talent. 

Lisa Hawksworth, consultancy director at scarlettabbott, believes alumni can make or break a business’ reputation, and that now more than ever business and HR leaders need to focus on relationships with outgoing employees;

“They’re a source of insight we don’t often think about. Alumni are the litmus test of company culture, trusted to tell the truth now they’ve moved on and there is no fear of repercussions. With ‘The Great Resignation’, the mass exodus of skills has left a talent vacuum, which is only on part of the problem ex-employees can create for former bosses

“Once-bitten, colleagues have the means - and motivation - to speak out against disreputable companies. Meaning a business’s reputation has never been more vulnerable. There are some infamous and well-documented examples of former employees speaking out. 

“And with the amount of shuffling that is happening in the job market, jobseekers are looking for objective sources that they can trust to guide future career moves. Former employees are a better source than anything - if a business burns bridges with them, it takes them out of their talent pool and could drain other options too.”

The Alumni Ambassadors section of scarlettabbott’s World Changers Report 2022, focuses on three areas that will help businesses manage relationships with outgoing team members. It recommends that business leaders need to have a clear offboarding process in place, guard the employees experience from day one to the last and keep alumni close - maintaining a relationship with former employees like a school or University does. 

Lisa says ‘boomerang employees’ will likely fill the UK job market but businesses will only benefit from returning talent if they have the above in place, Lisa continues;

“The pandemic has led to a mindset change for many people. Feelings of burnout, pressure and wanting control back, has led to lots of employees looking to move roles. Also most desk-based employees benefited from flexible working during the pandemic, some employers tried to bring them back to the office full-time and that was the catalyst to move on - many people voted with their feet.

“It’s likely once ‘The Great Resignation’ slows, that there will be those who on reflection will consider going back to a previous role. But that will only be the case for those businesses who have kept alumni close. 


“With ethics, purpose and social responsibility so important to millennials and Gen Z, clever companies will be continuing relationships with former colleagues and connecting new hires with alumni to keep them up-to-date with progress. Making your ex-colleagues a part of your alumni network, can form part of their identity and that may lead to them returning to you after gaining valuable insight and experience elsewhere.”

scarlettabbott’s World Changers Report 22 outlines 10 trends earmarked to change why, where and how we work, underpinned by voice notes and written insights from CEOs, authors and communications specialists.

Among the other trends covered are ‘part time pioneers’, global warming and embracing neurodiversity, the notion of the ‘side hustle’ and moving away from tick-box exercises to fulfill quotas or blurred agendas.   

For more information on scarlettabbott, visit scarlettabbott.co.uk/. To read the full report, visit https://scarlettabbott.co.uk/world-changers-2022.