if you're 60+, what do you do for work?

[Anonymous]

I work in big law and many manu attorneys are in their 60s. Also many secretaries or legal support admin are in their 60s. And most have been with the same firm for 30+ years.

I am in my 40s but I plan to retire before 60. Ill work an hourly wage job or contract job doing something random, like at the nature center or library part time.

[Anonymous]

Started a federal job around 40 and just hoping to make it to retirement.

[Anonymous]

I got laid off from government contracting at 50 and have spent the past 10 years working as a solar technician. I need the money!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in big law and many manu attorneys are in their 60s. Also many secretaries or legal support admin are in their 60s. And most have been with the same firm for 30+ years.

I am in my 40s but I plan to retire before 60. Ill work an hourly wage job or contract job doing something random, like at the nature center or library part time.

Sure the partners are in their 60s, but how many associates? It’s a pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 63.

I worked with colleagues of all ages. My close team of 10 were ages 35-64. We got along but I did feel that the younger people wanted our jobs (if I left it opened up a promotion, which one of them did get). I also had noted a few people who stayed too long (67 and 69 years old) who got bitter/assholish and daffy/absent-minded, respectively, along with a couple of other people who died a month or two after retirement. I didn't want to become these people.

I was happy with my job but started to feel like I was treading water at age 59. When I realized I didn't enjoy doing my favorite parts of the job and felt stressed out, I decided to go. I planned it for a year, not telling anyone. I gave my notice three months in advance. Having that plan made the last year much easier and gave me a third wind.

My house was paid off a year before I left, I had enough in retirement and decided it was okay to go. Thank goodness for that. I am happy with the decision. I thought I would work longer, but I didn't.

Oftentimes younger employees want their bosses' jobs, but for the wrong reasons. They look at such higher-level jobs as a "reward" for their hard work. Furthermore, many younger employees use the phrase "rest and vest" to describe older employees collecting lucrative stock options and RSUs who they perceive as not working as hard as them. Yet what such younger employees fail to see is the 20+ years of hard work it took to get there - the same work they're putting in now. Gen X felt this way about Baby Boomers who lived it up in the 1980s and wouldn't get out of the way in the early-2000s. This led to a compression and in some cases promotions skipped Gen X and were given directly to Gen Y, causing even more resentment.

While there is no magic age for retirement, it does seem like 60 years old is a common age for folks to hang it up. For those who want to keep working, companies need to determine whether they're still providing value. If not, then it's time to let them go (see above bolded).

I am a Boomer and I am working. I plan on retiring in 2029 or 2030.

I have a job I like. A nice big office. It is pretty much 9-5ish. I can do remote one day a week, dress down and get 4-5 weeks vacation.

It is a good chance Gen Z gets my job.

If it actually was the 1980s I would be working 50-55 hours a week in a suit in person in an office full of smoke being pressured to go out drinking with the clients 2-3 nights a week. No way I last past 55.

Work life balance extended boomer shelf life

It’s great that you’re able to keep working into your 70s. I hope I can do the same. But the poster above and then you have pointed out that I probably can’t. I’m already 55 and will be wearing a suit, putting in more than 50 hours in person and also going out in the evening for probably 3-4 of the days this week, here in the 2020s. We can’t all sit back and rest in our jobs. My new-ish boss is *still* a boomer. When he retires, I’m guessing they’ll skip all of us Gen-X people and go straight to a generation below. We aren’t earning enough to retire yet so will have to suffer the indignity of working for someone with less experience, unless they push us out.

Problem is young people are lazy and want to retire young.

In last year I had a 52 year old kid burn out quickly. She was my second in command and only here a few months. She actually had two levels between me and her. I was like 2-3 years I can promote you another 2-3 years next promotion. I am 61 plan on retiring around 2029 or latest 2030 and you are lined up for my job. Then you got a good 6-7 years of high pay till you retire at 67. She was like I am burnt out I be happy to retire now.

Number 3 was 47 and I got same story, he wants to retire by 53.

Now I am replacing them with 24-34 year olds.

Boomers can’t retire at 67 and pass a job to Gen X if Gen X wants to retire by 55.

Now millennials are born between 1981 and 1996. Elder millennials when I retire will be be almost 50.

Gen Z and younger millennials will get the jobs from Boomers.

J1 J2 J3 poster has entered the chat…

I am no longer J1, J2 and J3 I am now the man in the big office working full time in person bashing remote people.

Code switching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fed, grants administration. My office routinely hires people age 50+ and we have several in their late sixties/early seventies.

Which agency is this?

[Anonymous]

I'm a 53 year old teacher. I plan to work full time another 3-5 years. Then my goal is to work maybe 10-20 hours a week doing title one reading instruction in schools or just tutoring. I figured I can do that until I'm 65-70. More so I'm not bored out of my mind than for the money.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had 3 women over 60 work for me.

One was sorry and lazy, and quit when I joined the team and became her boss. Everyone was glad to see her go.

One was hourly and the sweetest woman, so kind and loved training and working with our young new hire. Unfortunately she got laid off (not my decision as we were all laid off, her job was automated and outsourced, and she had no other marketable skills for our company).

One is my current associate and is such a pleasure to work with. She’s been with the company almost longer than I’ve been alive, and does not want to grow in her career but does enjoy expanding her experience and skill set in our area, and loves mentoring and guiding the newer associates. She loves her job and the team and our company. We will truly lose a valuable and knowledgeable resource whenever she decides to retire.

It has been inspiring to me as a middle aged woman to see these older women (and others that I know, like my mom) gainfully employed and happy with their work. It’s shown me what’s possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am on the faculty of a medical school. I have much less energy now, and patience for the younger generation of students (many if whom are whiney and entitled).

Really? Whiny and entitled? Because I teach in a med school as well and think the younger generation of students are about the only hope for medicine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work in big law and many manu attorneys are in their 60s. Also many secretaries or legal support admin are in their 60s. And most have been with the same firm for 30+ years.

I am in my 40s but I plan to retire before 60. Ill work an hourly wage job or contract job doing something random, like at the nature center or library part time.

Sure the partners are in their 60s, but how many associates? It’s a pyramid.

Well, not many people head to law school at 50ish. I went to law school at 29 and felt relatively old (lol to that, but I did).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had 3 women over 60 work for me.

One was sorry and lazy, and quit when I joined the team and became her boss. Everyone was glad to see her go.

One was hourly and the sweetest woman, so kind and loved training and working with our young new hire. Unfortunately she got laid off (not my decision as we were all laid off, her job was automated and outsourced, and she had no other marketable skills for our company).

One is my current associate and is such a pleasure to work with. She’s been with the company almost longer than I’ve been alive, and does not want to grow in her career but does enjoy expanding her experience and skill set in our area, and loves mentoring and guiding the newer associates. She loves her job and the team and our company. We will truly lose a valuable and knowledgeable resource whenever she decides to retire.

It has been inspiring to me as a middle aged woman to see these older women (and others that I know, like my mom) gainfully employed and happy with their work. It’s shown me what’s possible.

This is great to hear! What industry are you in? Sounds like consulting or law?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had 3 women over 60 work for me.

One was sorry and lazy, and quit when I joined the team and became her boss. Everyone was glad to see her go.

One was hourly and the sweetest woman, so kind and loved training and working with our young new hire. Unfortunately she got laid off (not my decision as we were all laid off, her job was automated and outsourced, and she had no other marketable skills for our company).

One is my current associate and is such a pleasure to work with. She’s been with the company almost longer than I’ve been alive, and does not want to grow in her career but does enjoy expanding her experience and skill set in our area, and loves mentoring and guiding the newer associates. She loves her job and the team and our company. We will truly lose a valuable and knowledgeable resource whenever she decides to retire.

It has been inspiring to me as a middle aged woman to see these older women (and others that I know, like my mom) gainfully employed and happy with their work. It’s shown me what’s possible.

You have a boatload of subconscious bias. “Older women” - what a horrible comment. Calling then like your Mom when you are already middle aged?

My friends who are 60 drive sports cars, have beach houses, kids in High School and go to concerts and football games and family vacations.

60 today is no where near end of career. Heck I work with a few people in their 80s on my board and we do board off sites, go out to dinner, have planning sessions and some are on a few boards. You make 60 seem like 95

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The stark reality is that employment past age 50 is difficult and employment past 60 is a depressing exercise in futility.

Ageism is real and older workers simply are not welcome in the workplace. Very rarely are your skills and experience viewed as assets. In general, younger workers simply don't want you around - and when they are in leadership positions you won't even get interviewed, let alone hired.

Sadly, this is my experience. I am over 60, employed, and being marginalized more and more every day by younger colleagues. I have far more experience and better skills, but they look at my gray hair, and lined face, and see decrepitude and incompetence. Nothing I do can convince them otherwise, even when I correct their mistakes and fix the messes they make (always with a smile, and I do it discreetly). I'm OLD in their eyes, and nothing I do can change that. It is so depressing, but I can't quit my job. I actually love my job. I hope they don't find a reason to fire me (I'm sure they could make up something), but for now, I'm hanging on by my fingernails. I never expected this. I have a fantastic education, great experience, excellent skills developed over many years, yet when I turned 50 I was suddenly relegated to the trash heap, through no fault of my own. It sucks.