Not that you are gun-ho about retiring early, or retiring later, for that matter. You've look around and all of sudden it really doesn't make much sense with a depressed economy threatened with a double recession in three years time. On top of that really you can't afford it.
Alas, someone else want you yo retire. Yes. You heard that right. And, that someone is not your sons and daughters necessarily, who've seen you slave through the storms and rain over the years. They are even working to find you a good retirement home somewhere in the country and are committing to visiting you, with grandchildren, at least twice a month. But the truth is that they are not the ones who have the last say in your personal career journey. Yet, not them, but someone else is systemically working to make sure that you retire early, against your will.
Who could that be?
It's your boss. I bet you didn't recognize that coming even if you were well aware of the people in your workplace. It's just that stuff don't happen for nothing. Let's take a look.
The company that you've work at for over 20 years is downsizing. Whether you knew it or not a clandestine list was created that targeted employees most vulnerable to layoff. This was not whim decision, your name appeared on that planning list 3 years ago. You just didn't know it. Besides, you were only 58 three years ago and was making plans to go back to school to enhance your skills in order to compete for a better position in the company. Well, you can still go back to school if you choose, but the company you had plans to work in don't care. You are marked for the pastures.
Did you notice that mostly younger people (under 40) are being placed in the new openings. Who ever mentioned that the company bragged about internal promotions in their recruitment material and even in their employee manual. Yet someone said that rules are made to be broken. Your situation is no different than many in you shoes-- your age stands for outdated.
Experience is nothing but a number according to the new boss. It's not that you've being doing for years what your 20 something supervisor is learning. It's that you're teaching your new supervisor the ropes. You ask, why didn't they consider me? But once again you're off target. They did consider you (Didn't I mention the clandestine list?). They have already figured that you should be approaching retirement age and there's no room for old (excuse me meant "older") workers even if they are more qualified, more healthy, more mature or even if they are historically responsible for bringing the company trillions of dollars with lots of satisfied customers. No, forget about 65, 70,75 or 80, your kids have already found that home in the woods. It's time for you to join those other old workers who are scurrying for food, medical, and rent money.
But, look at the larger picture. You've got to quit one day. No one can go on forever. It's just that you don't get to choose that day.
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