9 March 2013

Cleaning symbiosis exists in nature but not in corporate HR

"Reverse recruiters" can take care of unwanted employees
George ILIEV


Symbiotic relationships are abundant in nature: from lichens (an organism that consists of fungi and algae locked together) to cleaning symbiosis (where a small bird or fish feeds off the parasites living on the skin of larger animals).

Cleaning symbiosis in the corporate world is limited to firms specialising in collecting recyclables or unwanted equipment. However, no recruiting company specialises in taking care of unwanted employees, who may be a hugely undervalued resource.

A "reverse recruiter" can play three important roles: 1) placing unwanted/underperforming employees in a new job where they can generate more value; 2) training these employees for the next job; and 3) keeping such employees away from dabbling with unfair dismissal lawsuits and negative media publicity.

"Reverse recruiting" is not even a matter of reciprocal altruism: it is self-serving and has the potential to be an entirely profit-driven business, as companies would have an incentive to pay the "reverse recruiter" to get the unwanted employees off their payroll. The beauty of it is that the "reverse recruiter" can charge both the previous employer and the next employer. Any different from eating ticks off the back of an impala?

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