Rehiring in the Great Resignation

March 23, 2022

Jared Pollacco

Jared Pollacco is the CEO of Impact XM. A passionate and driven leader focused on spearheading growth and client satisfaction, he has led Impact XM’s transition from being a top-of-the-line exhibit house to a strategically led, creatively driven event and experiential marketing agency. Pollacco has held a variety of positions at Impact XM, moving up through operations, sales and management to now lead one of the industry’s most creative and dedicated teams.

As the leader of an event and experiential marketing agency, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was one of, if not the, most challenging time for myself and our business—not only because we had to rethink our industry’s entire model of in-person events, but also because I had to make some incredibly difficult decisions regarding our employees. Namely, we faced the unfortunate reality that we needed to downsize and furlough a number of our team.

Those conversations were tough. We were letting go of people that had actively made Impact XM a leading agency in the industry and a company with a positive workplace culture and community. And while I knew and hoped that these talented individuals would find a new desk and role for themselves at a different place, I also wanted to find a way to bring them back onboard. 

Over the past two years, our pivoting and creative thinking has worked. We’re continuing to serve our clients and actually have created a more nimble, hybrid approach to our practice. As old business continues and new business arrives, we found ourselves back where we started a few years ago— looking for new talent.

In a time where companies in practically every industry are looking for fresh talent, I saw an opportunity for us: rehiring. We began reaching out to former employees, and as they responded and rejoined our teams, the results were incredible. 

Rehiring poses a number of advantages, beyond just the ease of an already-vetted applicant pool. Here are some of the significant benefits that we saw: 

Minimizing training overhead, with immediate confidence in returning employees.

From day one, our rehired employees already knew the processes and strategies that make Impact XM work and were able to quickly rejoin old teams or lead new accounts. As a leadership body, we knew how they worked, and we knew we could trust them, so they were able to hit the ground running without the lengthy training and educating processes that new hires so often need to undergo.

Easily integrating returning employees with clients.

Some of our rehired employees had years of experience working with our longer-lasting clients. In these situations, it was an incredibly fluid and seamless transition to reincorporate those employees into their old accounts. The clients were thrilled because they already knew the employee’s work, and the account teams were happy because they already had systems in place that the rehired employee could easily rejoin.

Maintaining team morale, trust and teamwork.

For current employees and recent rehired employees alike, the rehiring process was crucial in maintaining our cohesive work environment and culture. By connecting staff with individuals they had already built close relationships with, we were able to navigate the sometimes difficult waters of changing dynamics with ease.

Holding true to company values.

As I said before, it was a difficult decision to let people go at the beginning of the pandemic—they were a part of Impact XM’s community, and each is a talented and unique individual whom I care deeply about. So when the opportunity arose to invite these individuals back into our organization, I felt inside that it wasn’t just a way to go about expanding, it was innately the right thing to do. As a company that prides itself on supporting and protecting our team, this was an important statement for us to make to our staff, our clients and ourselves.

To my fellow leaders reading this who faced similar challenges and difficult decisions when it came to letting go of your staff, I encourage you to remain open to rehiring should the opportunity arise. It has enhanced not just our business processes and strategies, but also the way our team interacts with each other and the company as a whole, and as we continue to experience these times of change and uncertainty, that’s one of the greatest advantages we could hope to possess.

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact