If you’ve ever been in an on again-off again relationship, then you might understand why a significant number of young professionals would do the same with their jobs.

A new survey from Monster Canada found that one in two Canadian millennials (aged 18-34) would consider returning to a previous employer.

In contrast, our parents’ generation is a lot more decisive when it comes to breaking up with their boss: seven out of 10 Canadians aged 55 and older say they’ve never returned to a job they left.

A lot of the reasoning comes down to the appeal of strong relationships. Our generation is much more likely to keep in contact with former colleagues, bosses and employees thanks to social media.

“There is tremendous value in the relationships that people establish at work,” says Sheryl Boswell, Director of Marketing, Monster Canada in a company statement. “Saying goodbye to an employer isn’t always written in stone. These survey results show that, for Canadians, building bridges in your career is critical for unimagined opportunities.”

The survey found that so far in their careers, more than a third of millennials have ‘boomeranged’ to a former employer.

“It appears that millennials are having satisfying experiences at work that may easily draw them back to an employer,” says Boswell. “They sometimes leave equipped with the experience and intention of returning to the employer in a more advanced role.”

In general, the survey found six main factors responsible for a return to the old office:

• Earning a good salary (23 per cent)
• Work/life balance (19 per cent)
• Opportunities for growth and personal development (17 per cent)
• Missing the people (17 per cent)
• Work culture (11 per cent)
• A desire to work for the company’s current leadership (7 per cent).

However, these motivating factors differ between the sexes.

While salary is the top reason among men for women, it’s work/life balance. Additionally, men are more likely than women to return to an old job.

But whether you plan to go back to an old position or not, one thing you should never do is burn bridges.

“As you make your exit, think about relationships you want to continue nurturing and what you want to gain from your next role and even the one after,” Boswell advises.

After all, you’d be surprised by how many professional experiences come full circle, bringing you back to the people and places from your greener-than-green entry-level days.

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