Six Reasons Why You Should Never Retire. Gee, prepping America for the inevitable?

[HughBeaumont]

Yeah, THIS isn't completely short-sighted or Republican or delusional or anything . . .

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-reasons-why-never-retire-164549581.html

For the rest of us, retirement is, quite frankly, often a default choice that we've been brainwashed into accepting. Saying that it's time to retire becomes less and less relevant with each passing year. Not only are we living longer, but the quality of our lives in older age can also improve. Physically taxing jobs are disappearing. Knowledge jobs can be done quite well by older people.

Continuing to work keeps people engaged and requires learning new skills. While the perfect antidote to the hazards of aging has not yet been identified, performing meaningful work is certainly a major part of the answer. For people who have "retired" in a technical sense, there has been a boom in encore careers and other volunteer experiences. Many of these people are working as hard and effectively as they ever have, and reaping big health and wellness benefits (although clearly not earning commensurately large paychecks).

The recession and painfully slow jobs recovery that has followed have occasioned some sniping at older workers. It is time for them to move on, we're told, and to open up slots for deserving younger job candidates. Similar "job stealing" charges have been levied at illegal immigrants. This is an understandable but short-sighted reaction. Labor shortages will be making headlines in a few years, and we'll need workers of all ages and origins.

The financial argument for staying at work has, of course, been front and center in the past few years. But labor-force participation rates for older people have been rising for 20 years, and financial motivations were important even before the recession. Beyond the money, there have been other benefits as well.

Man . . . hope this corporate PR wonk is proud of himself.

People retire because work is a damned boring mud-trough for many of us. If people had their 'druthers, you REALLY think they'd pick "fabric covered box and the 'you could be next' anvil over their heads" over a stress-free life and relaxation? PLEASE.

[liberal N proud]

1. Brainwashed?

That is when I am supposed to be able to enjoy some things like travel, grandchildren and hobbies.

But the right wing is hell bent on making it my cat food years.

Most companies will kick you out between 58 and 63. I have seen dozens of people I worked with forced to take early retirement.

Great if you can afford it, but many have to take other jobs to survive.

[HughBeaumont]

3. Yes, it's "brainwashing" to want to relax. SHAME on you and whip me up some TPS reports!!

That's another thing he doesn't seem to get . . . workplace ageism in both hiring and retaining older workers.

[Bennyboy]

7. 52 is the year it all changes...

When you are too old and the data suggests that you will be a liability to the company. Healthcare costs rise, the percentage of comp claims, average number of sick days, elder care etc..... It's legal to discriminate because the data backs it up.


OUT YOU GO. I know so many people who had this happen. ALL WITHOUT UNION REPRESENTATION.

[liberal N proud]

8. Thanks for the reassurance

I just turned 53

[Bennyboy]

16. Of course at that age it is REAL EASY to get another job....

:Rolls eyes:

[RebelOne]

9. I was 70 when I was forced into retirement in 2010.

Actually, it was not because of my age. I was laid off along with others who were a lot younger than me. The company was downsizing. I had been wishing I could retire but wanted to get more money into my 401K. I was already collecting social security anyway.

So far, I have enough money in the bank that I will not have to be eating cat food for a few years.

[DirkGently]

2. Doubtless coming from the same place as all the "Home ownership is overrated" propaganda.

Who needs a house? Health benefits? Vacation? Retirement? Well, yes, rich people have multiple houses, unlimited health benefits, and talk earnestly about retiring from Wall Street jobs at 30 as multimillionaires.

But regular folks just don't need those things. They'd hardly appreciate them anyway.

They're from the 1%. And they're here to help us.

[Turbineguy]

4. Wall street sez:

"Pleaze don't retire (so we can instead)"

[Faygo Kid]

5. I read this earlier today. Ridiculous, and everybody commenting there thinks so.

Time for family and friends after a lifetime of work? Who needs THAT? I would MUCH rather fight the Metro crowds into downtown DC until I drop.

Love this statement near the close:

"Older employees are ceasing to be oddities in the workplace. Recognition and sensitivity to multigenerational workforces have been growing. Older workers thus are more likely to be accepted by younger colleagues and managers."

What planet is this guy on?

"Successful people have seldom selected retirement when they turn 65. Warren Buffett may be the poster child for lifetime employment, but he is hardly unique."

Warren Buffett is "hardly unique?" You're not "successful" if you have selected retirement?

No wonder he's getting hammered for this column.

[badhair77]

13. I'm not buying this part -

"Older employees are ceasing to be oddities in the workplace. Recognition and sensitivity to multigenerational workforces have been growing. Older workers thus are more likely to be accepted by younger colleagues and managers."

My experience has been younger workers could not wait to get rid of us veterans and take our assignments whether they were prepared for them or not. Some of it has worked out, some has blown up in the district's faces. Not my problem anymore. I'm enjoying my new life. I'd like to find a part-time job but in the meantime I'm renewing family relationships and enjoying what I have, something I could not do while I worked.

[alarimer]

6. Corporate shills with sit-on-your-ass all days jobs should not get to retire.

People who actually work for a living (bricklayers, any of the building trades, anyone who works outside or in any dangerous job) should get to retire at 45.

[marlakay]

10. I talked my husband into retiring early

Because he was so angry from commuting and parts of his job. That was 2005. I thought move from the city to the mountains with nice house, peace and quiet, should be wonderful....

If I had known about the economy, how part time jobs would be hard to find or keep, if I knew that my husband who had all these ideas of hobbies would just sit doing nothing every day....I would have kept working.

I worked year round first 4 years we were here and now I have a seasonal job working in the office of our summer and winter play productions. So I work 5 months a year, I like it. I go to the gym, I belong to a bookclub and a hiking club, and do some volunteer work.

My husband does yard work in the summer for 3 months and if I kick his buns will get the snow off the driveway.

I finally got him to see a counselor for depression starting last month. I am super hoping she tells him to get a life! I keep telling him to do a hobby any hobby.

That beyond money is why you should stay working unless you have a full life outside work.

[eridani]

24. Getting a full life outside of work is essential to sanity for everyone n/t

[Yo_Mama]

11. Gosh, that's so irritating I wish I hadn't read it

Jesus. What a fantasy world that person lives in.

[doc03]

12. Call me brainwashed but I retired two years ago and haven't regretted one

single day of it. Getting a pension and SS beats the hell out of working in a steel mill for 40 years.

[qazplm]

14. i agree in general

but i think once you retire, you are one step closer to death, so I plan on working for a long time, being a lawyer that does make it easier on me than most to do that.

I also plan on living forever, but I realize my odds are somewhat challenging in that vein.

[bmbmd]

15. Agree. Agree. Agree.

Keep on working. Keep being productive. Enjoy the empty nest. You'll live longer and enjoy it more.

[varelse]

17. It's not like all of us will have the option of continued employment

Or are we all supposed to relish second 'careers' as Walmart greeters?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

19. Agree. Walmart's not the "encore" career I'm looking for.

[treestar]

18. I used to visit my grandfather who sat in front of the TV

He did have other pursuits. But when I went over to his place and he was watching TV, I thought about retirement and the idea panicked me. Like it could be so boring.

[Jack Sprat]

20. Sounds like a Cambodian reeducation class

under Pol Pot. Forget your frivolous desires. You must work, work, work. Eat your catfood and get back to work.

[fluchen]

21. The last place I worked had very large older work force

many of the people with 30+ years of service.

The #1 reason why so many were still working even though they could retire on the company pension and wanted to was medical coverage.

They would not retire until they were eligiable for Medicare.

The company in late 2010 decided to offer a buy out of 6 months pay and the ability to get medical coverage at the same rates as full time workers till they were 65.

Within 5 minutes of the email announcing the deal went out over 100 people were lined up at HR to accept the deal.

Universal Health Care will solve so many of America's problems.

[GeorgeGist]

22. 5 biggest regrets of the dying

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.


http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html

[badtoworse]

23. The article makes a lot of sense for certain people...

... i.e. those that have a choice. Not everyone has a job that is physically taxing, boring or that they just plain hate. If you like what you do, have a job and are in good health, why would you want to leave it? I could retire, but I like what I'm doing and don't want to.