Returning to ex-employer?

MrBrindle

Hi all, this time last year I left my old job - I had a thread about it.

I was with the company for 5 years, and reasonably enjoyed the work load there and had great colleagues. I was part of a two person team - marketing manager and marketing assistant. I was the assistant, but my main working role was graphic design work and some marketing tasks. They sort of trained me towards the marketing manager role because my current manager was leaving, but after being made to apply internally, and being told I gave the best interview, they declined me the role because they felt my work a designer was too good. They gave me a £2000 pay rise and changed my title to 'graphic designer', because I argued that 'assistant' was demeaning to the work I did. If I'd got it, the managerial role would have given me a £10k pay rise. I became very disgruntled and frustrated and thought I'd reached a dead end within the company.

I was offered another job, and told them I was leaving, but would stay if I was given another £2000, which would have given me a fairer wage for the work I did.

They basically said no, so I left. I later found out they offered my replacement £4000 above what my wage was! I found it quite personally upsetting that they wouldn't reward a current employee but happily dish out the cash for someone unproven and new.

Fast forward a year, and apparently my replacement has been disappointing and been off on sick leave numerous times. My old employer rang me yesterday saying he was off on sick for the foreseeable future -at least a month. They are looking for someone to do some temp work until he returns and thought of contacting me. I did ask would there be scope for the role to turn into full time, but they couldn't tell me.

I'm not sure how to approach it. In some ways I'm quite flattered that they've contacted me to do some work, but on the other hand I feel quite insulted that they think I can just drop my other work commitments to work for them for a month - just basically using me as a stop gap.

I can either say flat out no, or I could offer them my services as a freelance/design consultant and charge them a hefty hourly rate while taking unpaid leave from my current employment. I work for my brothers' business so he could be flexible on this.

I've never been in this position before, so feels a bit odd.

74jax

I'm guessing they won't say it's a possibility of full time as it isn't and they just don't want to say that in case you won't help.

Yes it's flattering, but it's a company, with a job that needs doing and you can do it.

I wouldn't feel insulted, it's business. They need someone as a stop gap, why not someone who they know can do it.

Either name your price and do it for a month, or don't. But if you arent happy with the deal don't do it.

TELLIT01

Having to pay more to get somebody new into a business is very common. Many employers don't seem to actually realise the market rate for a job until they have to recruit somebody new.
Despite the issues you have had with them, they clearly think you are able to do the job for them. Have they mentioned how much they will pay? If you would like to get back into the company, and your brother is willing to let you go for a month, what do you have to lose - assuming they will pay you what you want?

kpols

I understand why you're annoyed-- its reasonable.

However, whether I'd do this depends on how much I needed the money. If I needed it, I'd go but for more money than they paid before.

elsien

Do you want to go back to working in an environment which you left because you were unhappy with how you were treated?
From the tone of your post you are still feeling resentful, which isn't really conducive to good working relations. Unless you can truly put the previous incidents behind you, I'd say no.

Dox

Take the emotion out of (difficult) and work out what's in it for you financially and professionally. Then decide on that basis, rather than living in the past (understandable but not going to benefit you).

Brynsam

MrBrindle wrote: »

I did ask would there be scope for the role to turn into full time, but they couldn't tell me.

I'm not sure how to approach it. In some ways I'm quite flattered that they've contacted me to do some work, but on the other hand I feel quite insulted that they think I can just drop my other work commitments to work for them for a month - just basically using me as a stop gap.

I can either say flat out no, or I could offer them my services as a freelance/design consultant and charge them a hefty hourly rate while taking unpaid leave from my current employment. I work for my brothers' business so he could be flexible on this.

By 'full time' do you mean 'permanent'? The fact you asked the question suggests you aren't that thrilled with where you are now.

Try the hefty hourly rate approach and you'll soon find out how much they would value you this time around.

ThemeOne

I would research freelance rates for your field of work, and charge them top of the range. Be prepared to walk away if they quibble, but they're in a fairly weak position.

PuzzledDave

This is not going to turn into a full time role realistically unless the other designer is out of work for good (major health issue).

Do you have a secure job now ? If so, then I wouldn't. If you do not then a stop gap is exactly what they need and you can charge correspondingly.
Look up contractor rates for the type of work, put your rate at near the top of what you can find. You have a massive head start on other contractors as you know the business well and they can be sure of the quality of your work and so you can charge to that effect.

Before jumping - consider carefully, what will your position be in a month when the other person suddenly returns to work ? Will you be better off even with top contractor rates ?

theoretica

You owe them nothing, so quote them a rate you would be happy with, but if they turn it down you won't regret not quoting lower.

TELLIT01

Some years ago I got chatting to a guy at a seminar I attended. He had been made redundant by a then major bank. His manager has apparently seemed to enjoy the process and suggested this guy was too old to be working in IT anyway. Fast forward a couple of month from being made redundancy and the same manager had to ask him to return, as they only realised after had had gone that they had nobody with the knowledge to maintain one of their old legacy systems.
This guy went back on a consultancy basis, at consultancy rates, for 3 days per week - those would be days of his choosing and he would inform them on the Friday what days he would work the following week. Revenge really is a dish best served cold.