Would You Rejoin Your Old Employer?

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There’s an eerie amount of phrases that apply to both breaking up with your partner and leaving your job: “It’s not you, it’s me”; “I think it’s time we part ways”; “I’ve found something else.”

But as the time it takes to find a new job seems to grow endless (on average, it now takes about six months), would you ever consider going back to an ex?

According to payroll processor ADP , an increasing number of American workers are returning to their old employers, many of which are eager to bring back trained and vetted candidates. Boomerang employees made up 35% of new hires in March, up from 31% last year across sectors, and they made up an average of 45% of hires at information firms over the last 12 months.

The appeal of hiring a former employee comes after a number of tech workers left their positions during “The Great Resignation” of 2021 and 2022. Benefiting from a job seeker-friendly market, many applicants were offered cushy salaries and competitive compensation packages at new firms. But the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. As tech companies cut middle management and AI continues to reduce workforces at even the largest companies, workers are tapping into their networks—like old bosses—for future opportunities.

And hiring former workers is a bonus for employers, too. Boomerang workers often know the culture and require less training. “Elevated economic uncertainty might be inspiring a return to familiar relationships,” ADP chief economist Nela Richardson wrote in the report.

So let this trend serve as a reminder: Don’t burn bridges with former employers, because they could just as soon be your future one.

In other news, it’s a hot week for the majority of the United States, so I hope you’re staying cool and hydrated. Happy reading!

WORK SMARTER

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TOUCH BASE

News from the world of work.

More than 1,000 Americans per day became millionaires in 2024, senior contributor Pamela Danziger reports , helping to reach a total of 24 million millionaires in the U.S . A strong economy and stock market propelled the newcomers into the two-comma club.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy expects AI to reduce its workforce. Jassy told Amazon employees that the rapid rise in AI will mean the company will “need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs.” The memo came just before Amazon told remote employees to relocate to a select number of hubs or lose their severance, according to Bloomberg .

The Trump Administration laid off another 639 workers on Friday , this time from federally-funded news outlet Voice of America. The media company publishes news about the U.S. in 40 languages across the globe, ensuring accurate news in places where where free press is restricted.

Truckers across the country are worried about losing their jobs as a mandatory English language requirement goes into effect. In April, President Trump signed an executive order requiring interstate tuckers to read and speak the language proficiently in order to maintain their licenses. Now, trucking schools are printing out scripts of English phrases for drivers to know in case they’re pulled over for roadside inspections, the AP reports.

Lululemon cut 150 corporate staff from its North America team as the company faces tariff and consumer trouble. New entrants in the athleisure space are also taking market share away from the Canadian company, meaning sales and revenue projections are down for the year.

NUMBER TO NOTE

400%

That’s how much the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders saw their salary increase this year, they revealed during the new season of their Netflix show America’s Sweethearts . That means the team’s most veteran cheerleaders could earn $75 an hour plus additional compensation for special appearances.

VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZjczsuYqa4

How Generative AI is Changing Creative Work With Adobe’s CTO

QUIZ

What company, known for providing “flexible on-demand work,” is now hopping into the data-labeling industry?

A. Upwork

B. LinkedIn

C. Uber

D. Lyft

Check if you got it right here .