[bogomipz]

Wow. Is boomeranging actually common at Amazon then? Why would you go back to a company that you had to leave in order to get a raise? It seems like the cultural aspects at the root of leaving would not have fundamentally changed the second time around.

[dhaulagiri]

Can't speak to Amazon, but while this seems surprising it's not that uncommon at big companies. One leaves assuming the grass is greener elsewhere and if/when that turns out not to be the case returning to the place you left provides a sense of confidence that you at least know the bad parts going in. And as described elsewhere it's sadly often an easier way to get a promotion/raise than grinding out the process at the company.

[allthecybers]

Sometimes it’s cause your TC takes a nose-dive after year 4 and the company has no interest in compensating for that drop. You might not want to leave but in order to keep pace with the market you’d boomerang to come back to be on par or above the new hires making 50% more than you.

I’ve also seen a scenario where someone has trouble getting promoted and leaves to boomerang back at a higher level.

Of course the company hates to give existing or recently departed employees raises of any type so they closed that loophole.