Managing Employee Rejoining After Absconding: Trust Concerns and HR Strategies

Dear all,

I'm working in a mid-level software company for the past year. A few weeks back, a guy forwarded his resume to my email ID. Due to a vacancy in my company relevant to his profile, I called him up, conducted the interview process, and he joined our company.

My HR lead has been working in this company for the past three years. She went on one month of medical leave and returned on the same date as his joining. She met with the new joiner and mentioned that he may have worked in our company previously in 2007 and absconded without any intimation. She expressed doubts about him, and when we checked the old database, we found that he had indeed joined and worked for only a few days back in 2007 before absconding.

During the interview, he did not disclose this information. When we confronted him about it, he provided invalid reasons. I'm unsure about my next course of action. Please advise.

Regards,
Mukunthan

If the answers are not valid, do you still want to trust that person? God bless you then!

Hi, have a frank talk with the guy. Check why and where he left. The suggestion may look outlandish - if the guy is a good trained hand, have him but keep an eye on him (don't make it look obvious). Just let him know that his performance will be strictly evaluated and what has gone before will weigh against him if he commits any mischievous act. Put him on probation, keep monitoring, and unless and until satisfied fully, don't confirm him.

Of course, the best option would be to send him out. The choice is yours.