Going back to work?

I agree with you (for once ) ronib. Everybody has different solutions. For me, not having the stress of having to do paid work has meant that I have the time and energy to be more mentally active than I have been for years - but it's enjoyable and I'm doing what I do because I enjoy it.

If you have computing skills, it’s easy enough to continue to work past retirement age. Contracting means that you find a contract for a limited time, and then take a break to suit. Some people like to keep mentally active through work and others manage their time differently. It should be personal choice.

OH and I both worked well past retirement age because we enjoyed our jobs but we were able to work very flexibly and we both decreased the number of days we worked gradually. If we had had to continue working full time, we probably wouldn't have continued. I think this is the key, older workers need more flexibility and a lot of employers won't offer that.

A lot of the focus on getting older people back to work is caused by the Tories unwillingness to admit that Brexit messed up the UK labour market which had a substantial element of immigrant labour within it. Droves of European skilled and semiskilled workers left the UK because Brexit killed freedom of movement and they felt unwelcome. We are now stuck with an anti-immigrant driven policy following the hysterical hostile environment policy. Take control of borders is simply shorthand for keep immigration down. I expect they will put retiring age up to 70.

Dickens

rosie1959

Wondering why you would get hammered by tax if you were going back to work now aged 60

I think it's because you're earnings are added to your pension and then you're taxed on the whole amount.

If they want retirees to return to the workplace, they'll probably need to address that issue.

My late mother went back to work after she'd retired but by the time she'd added up the transport costs getting to the workplace, and the tax she had to pay, it just wasn't worth the effort.

That’s true but pension age is no longer 60 I don’t get mine until I am 66.

After having very many years without paid employment (was a Mother, Carer and then sick myself), I applied for a job when I was 61 years of age and got it. Part - time admin work = absolutely loved it. My hours and responsibilites grew steadily over next few years, and I finally retired just a few months before my 70th birthday.
There had been a time during that period when I thought I was to be make redundant - and applied and got offered another admin job. Happily redundancy did not happen, indeed I was upgraded and had increased hours.

Nearly 82 years old now, I do a voluntary admin job.

I retired from teaching 12 years ago aged 60. A few months earlier my DH had been made redundant.
For the first 3 months of retirement we became carers for my terminally ill brother who came to live with us.
After my brother died DH and I volunteered as stewards at a nearby stately home and I also volunteered with the Forestry Commission as an education ranger.
I was able to utilise my teaching skills without the stress of making, planning and the dreaded OFSTED. All in the wonderful setting of an ancient forest.
I chose my hours to suit and there was no pressure.
At the same time our caring responsibilities increased, very elderly relatives became ill and then the grandchildren started to arrive so obviously we helped out whenever we could.

After a few years, both our voluntary 'jobs' ceased and being carers took over.
Later on when things became easier, we volunteered at a local museum stewarding on site and, in my case, working with school groups. At one point, I ran the education department for 3 months (paid) and also became a temporary museum assistant.
I still volunteer at the museum 2 or 3 times month plus 1 day a week working in the forest for an environmental charity and hope to continue for as long as I can.

The point I'm making, is that the vast majority of over 50s are already working one way or another. If not in a paid capacity then as volunteers and or as unpaid carers.
Most of the people I know who are in that age bracket are doing much the same as my late DH and I.
If, by some miracle, the government managed to find us 'proper jobs' what happens to all the organisations that depend on our input or our elderly relatives and grandchildren?
It was fairly easy for us to help our family in times of need as we didn't have to worry about taking time off from work.
I can't imagine how we would have coped if we had that added stress.

rosie1959

Wondering why you would get hammered by tax if you were going back to work now aged 60

I think it's because you're earnings are added to your pension and then you're taxed on the whole amount.

If they want retirees to return to the workplace, they'll probably need to address that issue.

My late mother went back to work after she'd retired but by the time she'd added up the transport costs getting to the workplace, and the tax she had to pay, it just wasn't worth the effort.

I retired 10 years ago, but the increased energy costs have led me to trying to find work again. It is not easy, I couldn't work full time, and part time jobs are few and far between

growstuff

GagaJo

growstuff

GagaJo

I'm not retired yet but I can't imagine my life without work. Not back breaking, killing myself work, like I did as a full-time teacher. But 20 or so hours a week work.

Life without work is wonderful!! (Apart from having no money.)

I love interacting with my students though. I could do without the exam marking, but it does keep my mind sharp and active. And if CIE ever goes back to pre-covid conditions, a few paid trips to Cambridge a year will be a nice benefit.

I have my free bus pass and go to Cambridge whenever I want! (It's about 15 miles)

I honestly don't miss anything about teaching. I don't even do tuition now. I enjoy having the time to interact with other people (people I choose).

There is absolutely no price I could put on the lack of stress and time to do what I want. Even though I'm getting older, I have never felt happier or (quite bizarrely) healthier. I don't care much about material things, so the lack of money doesn't bother me too much.

I keep mulling over going to work overseas again. I feel as if I've got one last hurrah left in me. One of my old schools tried to lure me back a couple of weeks ago and I was sorely tempted.

DH, 80 this year, is still working. Since retiring at 60, he has worked as a consultant engineer. How much work he does varies a lot. He can have several months with no work and then be doing the equivalent of 2 days a week, (from his desk at home) for several months.

He says that, as far as he is concerned, he will keep working until the work dries up or he becomes mentally incapable of doing it.

To have more people in work, it’s not the older ones the government should aim for but the younger mothers who want to return back to work but need help.
They should work out the value of free childcare. I heard again today on the BBC, a mother was staying at home as it wasn’t worth going to work because the cost of childcare was too high. She in the long run, will suffer from a low pension.

Our eldest SIL recently retired, earning more consulting, and time to travel. Plus no commute or meals and work clothing, taxes reduced by expenses of home office. They seem to be quite pleased with his choice.

GagaJo

growstuff

GagaJo

I'm not retired yet but I can't imagine my life without work. Not back breaking, killing myself work, like I did as a full-time teacher. But 20 or so hours a week work.

Life without work is wonderful!! (Apart from having no money.)

I love interacting with my students though. I could do without the exam marking, but it does keep my mind sharp and active. And if CIE ever goes back to pre-covid conditions, a few paid trips to Cambridge a year will be a nice benefit.

I have my free bus pass and go to Cambridge whenever I want! (It's about 15 miles)

I honestly don't miss anything about teaching. I don't even do tuition now. I enjoy having the time to interact with other people (people I choose).

There is absolutely no price I could put on the lack of stress and time to do what I want. Even though I'm getting older, I have never felt happier or (quite bizarrely) healthier. I don't care much about material things, so the lack of money doesn't bother me too much.

M0nica

What is the point of exhorting over 50s to go back to work, when a recent survey showed that the older you were the less inclined an employer was to take you on.

Companies nowadays have to make reports on the proprtion of employees they have by their sex and ethnic origin, why not include age? The distribution of the age of a company's workforce should reflect the age distribution of the country as a whole.

Totally agree, well said...

From previous job-hunting experience in my 50s, I can confirm that ageism is alive and well in the workplace.

I was approached in M&S yesterday (to upgrade my M&S card). The lady was going to be 77 next month and still enjoying work, but not the travel to get there.

growstuff

GagaJo

I'm not retired yet but I can't imagine my life without work. Not back breaking, killing myself work, like I did as a full-time teacher. But 20 or so hours a week work.

Life without work is wonderful!! (Apart from having no money.)

I love interacting with my students though. I could do without the exam marking, but it does keep my mind sharp and active. And if CIE ever goes back to pre-covid conditions, a few paid trips to Cambridge a year will be a nice benefit.

What is the point of exhorting over 50s to go back to work, when a recent survey showed that the older you were the less inclined an employer was to take you on.

Companies nowadays have to make reports on the proprtion of employees they have by their sex and ethnic origin, why not include age? The distribution of the age of a company's workforce should reflect the age distribution of the country as a whole.

rosie1959

Retirement is fine but you have to be able to afford it

Or learn to take pleasure in the things you can afford.

Retirement is fine but you have to be able to afford it

My daughter was told of someone coming to the end of their career….the person in question was just over fifty! Seems that some industries don’t want oldish workers!

GagaJo

I'm not retired yet but I can't imagine my life without work. Not back breaking, killing myself work, like I did as a full-time teacher. But 20 or so hours a week work.

Life without work is wonderful!! (Apart from having no money.)

Himself made me laugh the other day. He’d taken our two grandchildren out on a bike ride in the sunshine. Whilst out he saw an ice cream van and asked them if they’d like one. As per, they spent a few minutes choosing. With flake? Sauce? Sprinkles? Scoop tiny marshmallows? It was at this point he realised he’d not taken his wallet.
😱
Undeterred, he remembered he had some change in the pocket of his jeans. “£6 please mate” said the ice cream man! Luckily he had just six pounds coins in his pocket and a 50p piece. When he got back home his deadpan remark was “I might just be one of those retirees Sunak is looking for, needing to go back to work”.
🤣

72 n a couple of weeks and I am far far too busy to work.

I'm not retired yet but I can't imagine my life without work. Not back breaking, killing myself work, like I did as a full-time teacher. But 20 or so hours a week work.