16 Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford
Many people are choosing to keep their career going even if they are Baby Boomers in their 60s. Although many people have retired by the time they are 65 but just as many continue to work. The reasons are varied as to why people stay in the workforce. Some of the reasons are:
1. They enjoy the day to day challenges offered in the workforce.
2. They have always worked and can’t imagine not working.
3. Their social outlet has always been their workplace.
4. They are lucky enough to have a job they’ve never considered work.
5. They are travellers and want the extra funds to travel while healthy enough to do so.
6. They only work part-time or job share so have the best of both worlds.
7. They have a skill set that would be difficult to replace.
8. They have excellent work ethics and want to support their employer as long as they can.
9. They have their own business and enjoy being their own boss.
10. They don’t have enough money to retire.
There used to be a time when it was mandatory to retire at the age of 65. I remember hearing an argument between my Grade 5 teacher and the principal of our school. This was in the late 50s. Mr. Prior wanted to make arrangements for Bessie Dunne’s retirement party. She would be 65 just before Christmas and he figured it was a natural break and a good time to leave.
Mrs. Dunne wasn’t about to go, at least not before the end of the school year. She complained bitterly and made changes for herself and for those who followed her. After that everyone was allowed to finish the school year even if they celebrated their 65th birthday during the year. She was a career teacher and if they had allowed her to, Bessie Dunne would have taught right up until the day she died. As it was, retirement didn’t sit well with her and a few years later she passed away.
My grandmother didn’t start working full-time until she was in her 50s. Until then she was a substitute teacher but only worked occasionally. A hobby she had turned into a career and before long she was out doing parties all over the neighbourhood and overseeing others under her and attending conferences. It was a good thing because if she had stayed home when my grandfather retired, one of them probably would have killed the other!
Baby Boomers aren’t pulling the plug as early as they used to it seems. Some who did the “freedom 55” thing are returning to the work force, often because their investments didn’t perform as well as they hoped. They might not return on a full-time basis but may offer their services as a consultant or set up a small business doing whatever they had done in their fulltime career. That way they have more control over their time and time away.
For whatever reason the Baby Boomers in their 60s continue to work is up to them. As long as they remain healthy and enjoy doing what they are doing, it’s a good lifestyle.
No comments:
Post a Comment