Is this ok to do? Help to compose email if so please (work related)

[Workhelpplease]

namechanged as I have told people in rl and obviously outing

So dh started a new job, he HATES it! Proper hates it, it is a decent position working closely with the boss/ower of a big ish company but the boss is a pig, an absolute pig, he calls all the staff names, (no offense intended here) cunt, stupid cunt, thick cunt, handicap, thick bastard and this morning it is handicapped uneducated cunts but you name he calls people it, he is a bully, he is not bullying dh and not calling dh these names (to his face anyway) but obviously he is a horrible man and I wouldn't work there or put up with it so don't expect dh to either but he needs a job, leaving without one is not an option.

So, the job he left to take this job is one where he worked through an agency and places people in a massive company, he wasn't there long and only left for the position he is currently in as he was on contract and not guaranteed to be any longer than 11 months so he went for the position that appeared to have the most longevity.

So my question - Could he email the agency and ask for the job back? Is that a done thing or when you leave is that just it, is it tough, you took your chance and it didn't work out. It is a large plant where as such you are only a number is a large work force, no problem with that, and it's for that reason I think that actually people may come and go a lot and they may be used to people asking to come back, it may suit a contract agency for a trained member or staff to come back, with 11 month contracts they might be used to that? So are we unreasonable and cheeky looking to nicely email and ask or do we leave it and he can look for something else? And if it's not unreasonable is there any chance some of you lovely ladies might help me compose something? I need to phrase it in such a way that they know that he won't leave if something better comes up, which he won't, he knows if he goes back he is staying for 11 months at least

[Rosae]

You can ask. But I wouldn't expect them to jump at taking him back as they know now that he will be looking elsewhere.
My husband recently got a job where the previous worker had contacted them and applied as he didn't like his new one. I won't say that they didn't choose him because of him leaving, however he and my husband are equally qualified, and technically the previous person would have had more knowledge and experience of the job.
But there is no harm in asking.

[redexpat]

You can ask. The sooner the better. My DH got his job back after one night shift at a new place. Left Friday 3pm was back Wednesday 7am.

[Workhelpplease]

I wouldn't expect them to jump either, in fact I am torn between thinking it's cheeky to even ask (you made you bed you lie on it sort of) and well it's an agency for a huge company that only offer contract work, they must be used to people leaving for the promise of a long term contract and may be happy to take people back and then I go back to well if they know he left for a long term contract once then why wouldn't he again so they will laugh at him. I thought maybe if we composed a professional email which said basically look they dangled a carrot, I took it, I was wrong, I see that the grass isn't always greener, pretty please give me a job (in a professional non begging way) that it might work but he doesn't want to come off cheeky & desperate either but working with the new boss is obviously not something he feels he can do, biting his tongue is getting too painful

[Workhelpplease]

Ohh that's reassuring redexpat, that's what I think too the sooner the better if at all

[Gizlotsmum]

The worst they can say is no so I would do it

[mintthins]

If he doesn't ask he definitely won't get, but I'd ask before he resigns!

[thetemptationofchocolate]

My DH has also done this and was welcomed back. He was honest about finding that the grass wasn't greener, as he'd thought, and they appreicated his honesty. They were also very short-staffed!

[ZoeTurtle]

I would absolutely ask, because you have nothing to lose. It's not like they're going to blacklist him for asking politely.

One of my colleagues left and returned two weeks later. She hated her new job and the bigger salary wasn't worth the downsides. The company welcomed her back with open arms, and I think they found it quite flattering to be told they were so much more attractive than a competitor.

[ZoeTurtle]

Forgot to answer the question in the thread title - I would say that I'd made a mistake and realised X,Y,Z about Old Company were great. I would also assure them I wasn't going to be looking for another job if they took me back. And then I would stick to that, or he will burn major bridges with that major company.

[Bountybarsyuk]

I would definitely ask in an email and call the recruiter he used last time and just confess that he hates his new job and would rather go back to the old one. If it's contract work and they need staff, I can't think why they wouldn't take him as surely most of the people there are looking for other work anyway. Definitely do it, that way you know and if it's a no, you can think of another plan.

[BoffinMum]

I did a version of this and went back and was offered a better job!

[Workhelpplease]

Oh it's great to hear it has worked out for so many others that is really reassuring. Ok I'll get him to send the email this evening, as you all say it's worth a shot, all they can do is say no and at least he can go from there then. So you think it's best to be honest and just straight up say the grass wasn't greener and he realised old company was much better, as opposed to new company being so much worse, a positive spin on it as such

[myfavouritecolourispurple]

I wish I had had the nerve to do this. I knew even before I started a job that I'd made a mistake and it was confirmed on day one. I stuck it out for a year and there were some good times, but I'm sure I'd have been better going back to my old job (or never leaving).

[SpookyMooky]

He hasn't got anything to lose, has he?

I wouldn't go for the carrot dangling or "pretty please" angles though. He shouldn't "blame" the new company, it sounds very unprofessional. Just say he's made a mistake. He needs to keep it adult-adult. When they employ people on short term contracts they must expect them to continue hunting for perm jobs, there's no need for him to be unduly apologetic or obsequious.

[PeachBellini123]

What's he got to lose? Worst they can say is no and his situation at work sounds horrendoua.

[Bluntness100]

Is there still not the risk the old job will not last much longer? Financially would be not be better sucking it up and trying to find another permanent position?

We've had people do this, leave then ask to come back, and sadly we always say no, however as this is consultancy they may not have replaced him yet and he may stand a chance. It's worth asking but as said, he may need to think of the longer term. He left for a reason.

[Workhelpplease]

Oh no SpookeyMooky he wouldn't actually say pretty please, imagine hahaha no, although at the moment I think he feels like it when he is dealing with the new guy. No I will tell him to put a positive spin on it, I know slating an employer is never good no matter how much they deserve it really

[Workhelpplease]

There is every chance Bluntess, well I think if they did take him back it would be a new contract so for 11 months anyway, the only reason he left was for the long term prospect (and a few other things too in fairness, it is more money and better shifts), but the job market around here isn't great so he feels at this moment that if he stays he could be there months waiting on something new whereas if they did take him back then at least he knows he would be ok for 11 months and also because he hasn't long been in the new job then actually he could just leave it off his cv altogether so it would look better on his cv too

[Milkand2sugarsplease]

The worst that can happen is a 'thanks but no thanks' response. Definitely worth an email if you ask me.

I know plenty of people who have really advanced their career by being a little cheeky in their requests. One of my good friends has recently walked into her bosses office and our right asked for a 5k rise and she got it.

[SpookyMooky]

Yes I knew that OP , I just meant I'd avoid any sort of grovelling/begging approach, however professionally worded.

[GeorgeTheThird]

Yes, definitely speak positively of the old company rather than negatively of the new one.

[Stitchintimesaves9]

It's got to be worth a try! As others have said, best not to be critical of new company, but positive about old one.

Hope it works out!

[Workhelpplease]

Thanks a million everyone

Would something like this sound ok? Dh is at work so just trying to be constructive by putting something together for him

Dear x

I hope you are well.

As you may recall I recently left (x company) to work with another (y company) company. Upon reflection I have realised that this was in fact an error of judgement on my part. I enjoyed working at (x company), I enjoyed the team with which I worked and had a good relationship with everyone. I left to work at (y company) simply because it offered a long term contract, however, I have now realised that although it may offer longevity it does not offer me the opportunity to work in a large multinational such as (xx company) and it cannot give me the career opportunities and diversity that comes with working at company such as (x company), and although the terms of my contract are 11 months, as opposed to looking at it as a short term contract that actually I should have viewed it as 11 month opportunity to prove myself at (x company) and strive towards progressing further in a multinational enterprise.

I do not know your stance on offering “second chances” to former employees, but if this is something you would consider, I would like you to know that it is an opportunity I would relish and one I would make the most for the duration of the 11 months with a hope that it may extend to long term career at (x company).

[ZoeTurtle]

I think the actual question needs to be spelled out. It's not actually clear that he wants the job back - the 'second chance' thing could easily be interpreted as asking for other opportunities in the future.

Is this email to the agency or his boss/manager? If the agency, fine. If the old boss, it sounds a little cold and formal to me but your husband will know the culture of the company. I prefer more straightforward communication without dressing it up ("an opportunity I would relish" etc). Other companies like that sort of thing.

Good luck!

[Workhelpplease]

Thanks ZoeTurtle it's the agency not the company direct, maybe I need to change tac so actually. Some people love all that speil but others don't you are right. But I will make it clearer and looking for the job back. I mean I'm only putting something together, dh might come home and say no way he'd approach it differently altogether too