Retirement Morale

mso489 · May 12, 2018

I was lucky, in some ways, to be with an employer for many years before retirement. It gave me plenty of time for a few promotions and some variations in assignments. I was lucky that I only hit one institutional dust-up, which for a long career is pretty good. I saw plenty, of course. One thing I did observe was that about half the people retiring had strong negative feelings about the place. In some cases, they had simply not had a good experience. But in many other cases, it was my sense that this was a separation anxiety. The retirees were having to leave, so they had to think of every negative aspect of their experience in order to make the break less painful, or so they thought. Has anyone else noticed that people on the verge of retirement go into intense bad-mouthing to help them make the break.

papipeguy · May 12, 2018

I worked for the same company for 33 years. 4 months and 15 days. Yes, I did count. I also picked my retirement date when I first joined the company in 1974 at the age of 22. I think what you said has a lot of validity though I think that with long time employees it may be a case of negative feelings because things just are not the way they used to be and that is true of every company. For many it was difficult adapting to a new company culture where not doing things the way they used to be done is uncomfortable. There are many reasons why some would feel anxious about retirement. I was lucky and have enjoyed my extended vacation from day one. Did my company change over the years; you bet. I adjusted and kept my eye on the prize.

mikethompson · May 12, 2018

What is this 'retirement' you speak of?

tbradsim1 · May 12, 2018

I retired at 55 because of Cancer, I'm now 75, lots of water under the bridge. When Exxon bought Mobil, I could see more changes, More HR people making it seem like they cared, not so. I knew when to hold them and when to fold them. Big tip, don't burn your bridges, thanked everybody, got my son hired and he's a 20 yr Man now. In life there is constant change, one newer saying that is so true Go With The Flow. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. : puffy

: PS 31.5 yrs with Exxon.

irishearl · May 12, 2018

I turn 65 in 8 months. Think I'd like to retire then, not because there's a bunch of negatives about my place of employment. Simply have little interest in my work any longer. Financially, though, it would better if I went to 66 but my employer is hinting it is preferred if I retire @ 65 due to their budget difficulties. Whenever the day comes, cannot really complain about the place.

mso489 · May 12, 2018

brad, extremely wise approach. Not many can keep it all in perspective.

didache · May 12, 2018

I've been retired for just over 3 months now - long enough that we have our retirement house more or less how we like it, and for my various pensions to kick in and start paying. Personally, I couldn't really badmouth my prior employer as it was a church and I was the minister! :twisted:

mso489 · May 12, 2018

didache, congrats on what sounds like a most dignified graduation to a new life. So much is perspective. Over my years with my employer, I also noticed how newcomers could see opportunities and possibilities that others couldn't. To them, it was all great raw material for new efforts and projects, though of course some soon felt otherwise, but others made a lot of it come true before they settled in more to a routine.

puffy · May 12, 2018

The company that I worked for wanted to reduce employees People out robots in. When I was 52 I had 30 years in.They offered to pay my pension.They also offered to pay my social security as well until I was 62 if I would retire then.I jumped at it..If there is a down side to my retirement it is that these days prices are rising faster than my income.

warren · May 12, 2018

My first retirement, age 38, arose because the newly appointed Chief of Police was a person I couldn't honestly work for. After that, with retirement coming in I could afford to only work where I pleased. I still haven't formerly retired from the work force and am self-employed as a photographer. I feel a certain amount of sympathy for a person who retires to nothing. Unless, of course, that is the desire of the retiree. But, people who retire without a plan? I can't understand them.

tuold · May 12, 2018

I announced my retirement two and half years ago but my manager talked me into staying on the payroll as a safety compliance consultant. So I've been going in twice a month wondering the hospital corridors with a clipboard and BSing with my former coworkers.It's been fun, but now it's time to renew my license, do 20 hours continuing education and pay all the fees. I'm not inclined to do that anymore, so this is it....for sure!
I'm looking forward to my exit interview because I do have some constructive suggestions, but I have nothing bad to say about anybody. I appreciate the support I've gotten from my supervisors, managers and coworkers over the years. No separation anxiety for me since I've been sort of easing into the retirement thing for so long.

mikestanley · May 12, 2018

Where I worked, the sign in the locker stated “The beatings will continue until morale improves.” I always smiled for the boss!

Mike S.

mso489 · May 12, 2018

By way of a confession that's not so intensely personal I can't share it here, I have thought from time to time, wondered, if i might be invited back, either to do contract work, or to serve on one of the citizen boards where they need people who understand the mission and scope of what we did. Of course, if I'd wanted that, I could have campaigned for it, made the rounds every few months, phoned up a few key players, and shown an interest. But I always wondered if I'd be asked, partly because I wasn't apple polishing. My retirement has not been disturbed. My field of endeavor, even within the organization, wasn't in the major field of pursuit of the organization. I was support staff. Then I wondered if I should sound around; and then of course, I decided I was better off not doing that. There are other life assignments I had better tend.

lraisch · May 12, 2018

I have worked in the same field for 45 years. For 20 years I worked as a regional technical manager covering all or part of 8 states. I was pretty burned out on travel when the company decided to eliminate 76 people from that department, including me.
There has been a lot of consolidation in this field for the last decade or so and the various companies I worked for since then were all acquired, merged or replaced and I ended up back at my old firm. I initially submitted my resignation last March but the cost of health insurance and other factors kept me there till this year when I couldn't take it anymore.
I could never understand why, when the company would acquire some other firm which was failing, they would keep their management in place. Things got to the point where it was clear we were not valued.
Now at 68 I have been lucky to find a place with a Mom and Pop firm where I am working three days a week. I'm hoping that will ease my workload and the stress of spending 3 to 4 hours a day fighting traffic while still earning a little.

fishfly · May 12, 2018

I was 67 the August afternoon when one project came to a close and there were really no others appropriate for me. The company was trying to cut staff and I was in the middle of it. They gave me the choice of indefinite lay off or "early" retirement. I was planning (well, my wife was planning for me) to retire the following April. That was on a Wednesday. Thursday and Friday, I went through panic, disappointment, and fear. By Sunday, I was resigned to it. By Monday I was ecstatic. I was retired!

irishearl · May 12, 2018

While the boss was hinting around that I should think about retiring @ 65, she also spoke of hiring me part-time thereafter. Would seriously consider that, but only if I needed the $.

didache · May 12, 2018

mso489 - on a somewhat similar note to your own situation, the big question facing me is: Do I want to continue to conduct services, or do I genuinely and finally retire?
Like you I have not actively sought any engagements but even so I now have six of them in my diary - either one or two a month through September, in two different churches. I am regarding these opportunities as a 'test' in that I will hopefully know come October what the answer to my question will be.
Mike

mso489 · May 12, 2018

didache, they love 'ya and want your professional services. But don't be cowed if you find there are other life pursuits you feel you should do. The pure duty part is over. Now you get to decide, and that should be a joyful thing.
I was lucky to have a day job that used a number of my abilities, and I had my own time to do my own work. So I was working with and for scientists and administrators who had been scientists, and provided writing, editing, and some communications consulting along with that. Got to do a wide variety of demanding tasks. But when i succeeded big, the scientists assumed it was totally their doing, and if I didn't, it was all my fault. No boo-hoo, just came with the territory. In terms of earning a living, I was extremely lucky.

pepesdad1 · May 12, 2018

I retired at age 71 from the Labor Dept with the State of Florida, or better known as Floriduh. I had medical issues and the pain of going into work was so severe that I went in sometimes at 4AM did what was needed and left around noon. My boss said he appreciated all my work and the fact that I left a file for him and my replacement so that work continued uninterrupted. My wife was able to retire at the same time after 20 years with the State, we had had enough. We love being retired and being able to enjoy the day with our sweet dog. Money is considerably less but enjoying life is much more important.

Working and being miserable is no way to live.

warren · May 12, 2018

Working and being miserable is no way to live.

Absolutely right! I consider myself to be fortunate to have never had a job I didn't enjoy and was challenged by. Some were more fulfilling than others but, I never kept a job I didn't enjoy doing, life's too short. I guess it all depends on what one wants out of life.

Retirement Morale

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