The digital skills gap in the UK is bigger than ever, and whilst many businesses have had to alter their approach as a result of letting employees go and scouting talent, the labour shortage seems to be having an effect. 

According to a recent research from Ranstad UK, 55% of tech managers say they would not rehire an employee that had  let go. However, in the same report, 45% of tech managers say they would indeed rehire an employee they let go. 

A combination of the skills gap and labour shortages has led tech leaders to consider rehiring employees. Though this could be good news and a second chance for employees who have unfortunately lost their jobs, this does bring issues of trying to work with employees who were originally fired for not being good enough. How will current employees feel about that decision? This leaves tech leaders pondering their next move. 

Adrian Smith, senior director of operations at Randstad UK said: “This shows just how severe the labour shortage is at present – and how desperate employers are getting in the face of such a dearth of skills.  By hiring someone you have fired, rather than someone who has just left the organisation, not only are there the obvious problems associated with trying to operate alongside  someone who didn’t work-out the first time round, there’s the added risk of annoying ambitious people who have stayed with you – nudging them to leave in protest.”

In some cases while it may be a risky decision, work-life balance is another factor which has led to the tech industry ruing letting go former employers. Due to staff shortages, burnout has become a result of teams working long hours consistently. Covid isolation cases over December and January are equally as influential to their decisions. 

“Another factor is burnout.  Some teams have been running too hot for too long.   And Covid has changed how some people think about life, work, and what they want out of both.  It’s made people step back and rethink their lives, reminding them that life is too short. The number of vacancies out there means that not only do they now want to change one of the key aspects of their life – their jobs – they can.” Adrian Smith added.

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