Recalls

In the automotive and manufacturing world, recalls are bad.

A defect or accident with a product means the product needs to be returned for correction or replacement.

In the career world, occasionally, recalls occur when a laid off employee is asked to return to their former place of work or position.

This occurs when companies regain their financial footing or realize they have eliminated too many key personnel. (Hint: bad sign).

Far too many victims of corporate downsizing wait for recall notices.

Imagine being in love with a special someone and getting publicly dumped and kicked out of the house. Imagine having an armed guard escort you from your significant other's home and your possessions piled on the curb.

Now, why would you go back to that?
Why would you want to go back and subject yourself to the definite possibility of further public humiliation?

Yet people do it everyday.

They wait for the re"call" from the factory or office... Why?

They think the job was the best they ever had - or could ever get.

They are afraid of working somewhere else - or looking.

They are afraid of the unknown, of rejection or change.

They think their identity is connected to their old job and feel lost.

Okay, so what is really so wrong with getting recalled back to work?

Companies have been known to call back laid off employees.

However, companies, except in very few situations, have no legal reason to reinstate an employee to their former position or pay.

Further, many companies will recall an employee but only as a contractor (i.e. no benefits), part-timer or temp.

Recalled employees often have to "start over" again at a company having lost all their accrued vacation and sick time, seniority and other tenure-related benefits.

Finally, companies which have involuntary staff reductions once, usually will have them again. These things are cyclical. Why possibly put your family through this again?

My advice is to never go back to a company after you have been laid off.

However, to every never there are some exceptions -

The company offers your old job back..

With several concessions including - greater responsibility, more money, increased leverage and opportunity for advancement...

An apology is nice, but not likely..

OR

Your personal situation, (finances, family, etc) demands that you take the first available job.

Remember, recall notices are for broken and defective products. What do you want to be known as?

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