What do you say when people keep on asking you when you plan on retiring?

[Anonymous]

Could you say something like - gee, do I look that old!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could you say something like - gee, do I look that old!?

HA! That is a good one. OP.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,

When people ask me I say God willing -- I don't believe in retiring because everyone I know who has retired has died right away. (It happens to be true). That usually shuts them up.

[Anonymous]

Just say "I don't know. I haven't thought about it." And walk away or change the topic.

It is no one's business, and it's, frankly, rude to ask. It's one thing if you talked frequently about retiring. It's entirely different if people are asking unprovoked.

If a boss is asking, then I would ask, "Is there a reason why you are asking?" Because that borders on age discrimination (unless the boss is asking every employee of every age).

But I wouldn't be combative. I would just seem shocked and say, "Why do you ask?" If a boss is asking, it's entirely possible that higher ups are contemplating buyouts for people who might be near retirement or interested in retiring early, and the boss is just trying to feel people out.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks to everyone--good advice here! It is not the boss or younger coworker asking, but coworkers about the same age--I will try some of the comebacks mentioned here Appreciated the advice about the boss asking from several PP's, if that ever happens.

Think it was just getting me down, because it seemed like most of the people I am meeting (even socially) who are my age or older were asking me this, and I have years to go before retirement. Just seems much more common in this area with people over a certain age.

[Anonymous]

When it isn't fun anymore.

[Anonymous]

I hear you. I had kids in my 40s, so won't be retiring for a long time. But people my age are dropping like flies.

[Anonymous]

I take it as a case of ageism. People don't ask 20 year olds that question, right? When anyone gets asked that for the first time, they feel offended. Most older employees that I know are keenly aware that younger generations want their position, so older employees feel like they have to work extra hard to show their worth,and do. My response at 64 is "When I want to."

[Anonymous]

I am 62 and no one ever has asked me when I am retiring.

65 is Medicare
67 is Regular SS
70 is max SS
RMD is 73

If asked the real answer is I am never retiring. My plans are once I hit 65 the first layoff or job loss I take severance and unemployment and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

I’m a career SES, I manage employees in their 20s up to a few in their 70s. I have never asked any of them when they will retire. It would be really helpful to know for succession planning purposes, as we just had one who retired with little notice and took 35 years of experience with her. If there was a polite way to ask without triggering any labor laws I would but I’ve always been told not to ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a career SES, I manage employees in their 20s up to a few in their 70s. I have never asked any of them when they will retire. It would be really helpful to know for succession planning purposes, as we just had one who retired with little notice and took 35 years of experience with her. If there was a polite way to ask without triggering any labor laws I would but I’ve always been told not to ask.

I think there's ways to get around finding the information you need without explicitly asking when they will retire.

If someone has 35 years of experience, you straight up tell them that (1) they are a valuable source of institutional knowledge and (2) but this puts the organization/team at a succession risk. You need to get that knowledge transferred to other members of the team and want to work on a plan to ensure that happens in a timely manner.

And, of course, you stress that you hope they continue their career with you for as long as they are comfortable and find meaning in their work.

I think the point is to stress that your door is always open for people when they want to talk about their career plans. And that what they say isn't set in stone, but that you appreciate as much forward-looking guidance as possible so everyone can be setup for success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks to everyone--good advice here! It is not the boss or younger coworker asking, but coworkers about the same age--I will try some of the comebacks mentioned here Appreciated the advice about the boss asking from several PP's, if that ever happens.

Think it was just getting me down, because it seemed like most of the people I am meeting (even socially) who are my age or older were asking me this, and I have years to go before retirement. Just seems much more common in this area with people over a certain age.

This makes sense that it's people your own age asking about it. For some people retirement becomes a hot topic at work and some people will discuss it with everyone starting about ten years before they go. There was one person in my department who was the go to for any question about pensions, payouts at retirement, our contracts and how it affected retirement, etc. She and some others talked about it all the time. A lot of people have it planned to the day and use countdown clocks. I retired this year and it was sooner than I had planned but I never focused on a retirement timeline. There are definitely a lot who do and they talk about what they're going to do in retirement, etc. It's on their minds a lot, I think it's their version of water cooler talk (and super boring, IMO) and I don't think it's personal except as a way to connect with peers.

Someone younger--they want your job or want you to go.

I never gave an honest answer until I gave my notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks to everyone--good advice here! It is not the boss or younger coworker asking, but coworkers about the same age--I will try some of the comebacks mentioned here Appreciated the advice about the boss asking from several PP's, if that ever happens.

Think it was just getting me down, because it seemed like most of the people I am meeting (even socially) who are my age or older were asking me this, and I have years to go before retirement. Just seems much more common in this area with people over a certain age.

This makes sense that it's people your own age asking about it. For some people retirement becomes a hot topic at work and some people will discuss it with everyone starting about ten years before they go. There was one person in my department who was the go to for any question about pensions, payouts at retirement, our contracts and how it affected retirement, etc. She and some others talked about it all the time. A lot of people have it planned to the day and use countdown clocks. I retired this year and it was sooner than I had planned but I never focused on a retirement timeline. There are definitely a lot who do and they talk about what they're going to do in retirement, etc. It's on their minds a lot, I think it's their version of water cooler talk (and super boring, IMO) and I don't think it's personal except as a way to connect with peers.

Someone younger--they want your job or want you to go.

I never gave an honest answer until I gave my notice.

I agree with this take, especially for feds since early retirement is a real option for many. I know people much younger than retirement age who have thought about the exact point they would call it quits.

I left the government after about 10 years but if I had stayed, I could have retired at 57.5. If I looked a bit older than I was in my 40s or early 50s, I wouldn’t be surprised if people asked.

[Anonymous]

I'm working part time at 47 and will be retiring at 50. I never made over $40k a year per my SS statement and it's just about correct.
While I don't care why most people are not retiring early, I do wonder, why the ones who want to retire, didn't plan for it and make it happen. And if they did work on it for years, what derailed it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would live to know how they will retire at 55 and possibly live 30-35 more years on a pension? They'll have to worry about every penny.

Yeah I don't get this. I understand people in their mid 50s and older are retiring mid 50s but most people I know under 50 are planning on working much longer. I prioritize work life balance because I feel like I will be working into my 70s. People I know in my parents' generation worked and worked with no balance and saved it all for retirement. I'd rather work years longer with more balance now. I also don't have a lit of working woes - telecommuting options and flex schedules help me significantly cut down on my hours commuting and help me manage my schedule. Plus I like my work.

boomers have a lot of money, housing and benefits setup on the backs of the youth