Here are some synonyms for the phrase "back on the payroll." The first one is "reemployed," which means that someone has been given a job again after a period of time without employment. Another synonym is "recruited," which refers to the act of finding and hiring someone for a position. "Reinstated" is another synonym that indicates that someone has been restored to their previous position or job. Other synonyms include "rehired," "restored to employment," "brought back on staff," and "reinstated to the workforce." All of these synonyms describe the process of someone returning to a job that they had previously held.