Hiring Former Employees Before you take them back, consider the pros and cons.

On the plus side, by rehiring a former worker you can probablyreduce the risk of making a mistake. You know the employee'sskills, abilities and work style. You know the person, and he orshe knows your system. All in all, it sounds like a great idea. Butwait: You should carefully consider why that person left in thefirst place, what he or she has been doing in the meantime, and whyhe wants to return. It's often tempting to rehire marginalemployees just because you need the bodies, and it seems easierthan searching from scratch. But that's the wrong reason.

If you have other employees, check with them to see what theythought of the ex-staffer. You should also ask suppliers, vendorsand customers for their opinions. Sure, it makes sense to considerex-employees when you're hiring, but make sure you have all thefacts first.

Excerpted from Get Smart: 365 Tips To Boost YourEntrepreneurial IQ