BooMERS @ WoRk
Saying Good-Bye to Work
David Letterman, Indianapolis native
and popular host of the “Late Show with
David Letterman” recently announced
his retirement, scheduled for 2015. He
joins a long list of retiring celebrities,
including former anchorwoman
Barbara Walters, baseball star
Derek Jeter and talk show host
Jay Leno. When you are not a
celebrity, making the decision
on when to leave work becomes
a bit more complicated.
Retirement is a major life event with financial,
social, health, and relationship considerations. Last
year, Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance
survey reported the current retirement age at 61.
Layoffs and health problems often take the choice out
of leaving work. However, for those who voluntarily
end their careers after a financial review supports the
decision, here are three other issues to consider:
Wellness — Many employees keep working because of the insurance benefits. While the Affordable
Care Act provides health care, employers often offer
additional wellness perks including on-site fitness
centers, discounts at local health clubs and incentives
to stay healthy. Working provides a level of activity
even if it is walking around the office or to and from
the parking lot. Finding a way to maintain exercise is
important after work ends.
slightly better emotional health than those who do
not work.” The biggest issue is
identifying employers who are
interested in recruiting and
retaining experienced workers.
The emotional component of saying good-bye to work
varies, and depends on each
person’s relationship with their
employer and whether they viewed
their work as a job, career or pursuing a callcall
ing. Employees with enough years to leave work
usually have more unused vacation than they can
use in a year. A four-week “retirement rehearsal” at
home is one way to preview what life after work might
look like if your employer will agree. Use the rehearsal to live within your planned post-work budget, fill
your days the way you plan to during retirement and
decide whether or not it is really time to call it quits.
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Brenda Johnson blogs about aging in the workforce at Work,
Careers and Jobs @ 40+, www.workinglater.blogspot.com.
You can follow her on Twitter: @workingover40.
Relationship Reboot — For couples, having one
partner retired and another in the workforce changes
their “Couple Dynamics” positively or negatively depending on their pre-planning. Being employed offers
a primary source of social interaction for many singles
and empty nesters. Some thought has to be given to
maintaining a connection with others in order to avoid
isolation.
Discovering Significance — In addition to staying active and engaged socially at work, employees
often find meaning through their work. During retirement if the 3Gs - grandchildren, golf and gardening-are not fulfilling enough, there are other options to
pursue a purposeful life after leaving the workforce.
Working part-time, turning a hobby into a business
and meaningful volunteer activities are among the
ways retirees discover their post-employment passions.
Those who decide to continue working are part of
new trend the Gallup survey has reported. Americans
who are still working expect to retire at age 66. The
survey also reported that “workers age 60-69 have
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