Suppose you are thinking about rehiring someone who was recently laid off. After all, you pretty much know what you to expect from that individual. Plus, you’ll save on advertising expenses and recruiting costs—not to mention the hassle of interviewing a plethora of candidates.

But there are several potential pitfalls to avoid. Consider the following four points before you make an offer.

*State laws: You may be legally obligated to hire certain employees in the wake of layoffs. Similarly, your company may have a definitive policy in place regarding re-hires.

*Discrimination: If you are hiring back certain workers—but not all of them—you could end up triggering a discrimination lawsuit. Check with legal counsel.

*Terms and conditions: Make sure you specify the nature of the job you are rehiring the person to perform. It does not have to be exactly the same as before.

*Business skills: The workers you hire should be able to perform the jobs that satisfy your current needs. What is in the past should stay in the past.

Finally, don’t let your guilt be the deciding factor. Do what is best for the company.