Finally time to retire

Cujet said:
Just told the chief pilot I'm leaving. I've talked about this here before, but finally talked openly with the chief pilot today, and despite some rather heated arguments on other matters, he mentioned that he is working on additional personnel, to work with, and eventually replace me when I leave. I'm in my early 60's, and it's time. I have multiple autoimmune issues, and I am slow and tired. Made a real mistake the other day, which was not good. First time for that, ugh. I want to finish out my career without problems.

I'm overwhelmed and I've let it be known, both via email and verbally. So to me, it's a bit of contentious retirement. However, objectively, it's time. I am very slow.

The way I see it, (if they don't let me go first) I could leave at the end of the year, or end of May. As our flight department winters in Florida, where I live and the work load is lighter, as in NORMAL, not easy.

I need to propose a retirement letter, in my typical no fluff style


Suggestions?
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well, why do you need to write a letter? Do you owe them an explanation, I think not.

If you need to cash out in a formal manner then give em written notice but if you just are of age and have a 410K as a retirement system, tell em you quit in 2 weeks..
 
I retired at 68, and don't regret it at all. My reason was they wanted me to go get additional training with 3 new classes. I had a 1 year old grand daughter and we were watching her at least 3 days per week. It was a joy to watch her grow up. She is now 9 and we have another one to watch that is 2 so what matters most is your legacy with your family. You will both keep that memory as long as you live.
 
Cujet said:
In the end, it's a sense of responsibility that keeps me here. My boss did give a nice retention bonus when I quit in 2017, due to being overworked. Nothing has changed.
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That’s a major clue!

Now it’s time to be responsible to you and your health, not to your employer.

Congratulations on your career and good luck going forward. As long as you don’t “retire” from BITOG. I’ve enjoyed your posts.
 
Wow, what a great discussion - excellent responses on both sides of the retirement choice challenges. I agree with most of the answers that state to keep the retirement letter on a positive note, very short and very formal. No emotional embellishment whatsoever. Unless this is a requirement from HR, I question the need for any retirement letter at all.

I'm actively planning my retirement in the next year or two, age 67 and 46 years in my career, which I am passionate about. Most of my personal ducks are in a row and I'm just playing it by ear now and enjoying the ride. I have stepped up my personal and family priorities even more, and my workplace goal is to leave on a positive note and help the younger folks establish a healthy, lifelong workplace foothold. Emphasis on assisting people, not the workplace.

I won a prestigious distinguished staff award this past spring. I chuckled inside when they described my dedication to the workplace. My dedication is to myself first. It may sound selfish, but if you live first to please yourself, most everything else falls in place, both personal and work situations. It doesn't eliminate life's challenges and hardships, it just keeps you better grounded with proper perspective (lifelong learning with many bumps).

Congratulations Cujet. dkryan sums up what I've tried to balance my whole career: "Now it’s time to be responsible to you and your health, not (so much) to your employer." IF you think you want/need a transition stage from full time to retirement, offer your wisdom and expertise to assist the transition, part-time under YOUR conditions ($$$$$$).
 
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You know when it’s time to retire - and I think you’re right. @JeffKeryk had some great advice - be short, positive, thank them, and tell them it is a personal matter. Don’t slam the door closed (metaphorically) on your way out.

Would they be open to part time? Perhaps two days a week? Defined hours/compensation? No mission creep?

Would you be open to that kind of arrangement?

I wouldn’t seek to offer medical advice, though I have some of what you are struggling with - just make sure that you make time to take care of yourself, and enjoy life.
 
I turned in a letter of resignation ( retirement ) . One short paragraph that basically stated that my employment would terminate at the end of my normal work day on July 31, 2017 . (y)
 
One writes an exit letter because it’s the right (professional) thing to do. Even when a company hasn’t treated you well, It’s about your character, not theirs.

Cujet, I posted a phrase sometime back that an older retiree told me as I was debating my own retirement back in 2017.
“Nobody on their deathbed ever said I should have worked more”

Truer words.
 
Cujet said:
Just told the chief pilot I'm leaving. I've talked about this here before, but finally talked openly with the chief pilot today, and despite some rather heated arguments on other matters, he mentioned that he is working on additional personnel, to work with, and eventually replace me when I leave. I'm in my early 60's, and it's time. I have multiple autoimmune issues, and I am slow and tired. Made a real mistake the other day, which was not good. First time for that, ugh. I want to finish out my career without problems.

I'm overwhelmed and I've let it be known, both via email and verbally. So to me, it's a bit of contentious retirement. However, objectively, it's time. I am very slow.

The way I see it, (if they don't let me go first) I could leave at the end of the year, or end of May. As our flight department winters in Florida, where I live and the work load is lighter, as in NORMAL, not easy.

I need to propose a retirement letter, in my typical no fluff style


Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Leave with class.
That says a lot.
And you have evidenced on BITOG that you are a class act.
 
I was working for Tesla and they offered me early retirement at age 64. It was a rather blatant act of age discrimination as their median age of employees was around 34. However they offered me an excellent severance package and I walked out with a big smile on my face and feeling like a huge load had been lifted from my shoulders. I waited a year to start taking Social Security and Medicare. Paying my own health insurance for a year sucked and it was expensive.

With regards to a resignation letter I would be short and sweet and to the point. No need to offer platitudes or thank them for letting you work there. Just "please accept my resignation from my XYZ position effective MM/DD/YYYY. Regards, Cujet".
The sooner you relieve yourself from the mental stress and burden of working, the better you will feel.

Congrats. I tell my friends that retirement means every day is Saturday.
 
I think it's more that you rather not retire and wouldnt mind working a slower schedule since you are considering after the winter.
I technically retired at 62 and started collecting SS at that age. Exactly the month I was 62.

Since I enjoy working, I did take a part time job 20/25 hours a week with full benefits and PTO and Holidays yet keeping me right around the threshold for maximum I can earn until I turned 65 when medicare kicked in.

Some years I went over the max which I think at that point they take 50% of your earnings over the threshold but that didnt matter to me. Its wasnt about the earnings, it was the medical benefit as being in an office. PS for those who dont know, even though they take the money when you go over the max earnings threshold you do get it back after you retire, ask SS how it works if your curious. Dont want to give incorrect advice. My SS was reformulated after I retired and now get more because of this. The key is it is all automatic and you will get a letter when it happens (if you go over the max earnings when you work after starting to collect at 62) but even though its automatic the key is just beware it should happen and if it doesnt by the next year to call them.

I left the month before I turned 65 because the company medical benefits expire at the end of the month which brought me to the first month of medicare.

Do what is good for you, it's an individual decision. You owe the company nothing, they owe you the worker.
Should you decide, like others said a short paragraph is all that is needed. It's needed for the company to have to show you voluntarily left that's all.

Letter of Resignation
"I have decided to retire, my last day at ______ (the company) will be (month, day and year) "
Anything else that you may want to add is fine, short but sweet.
 
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DwightFrye said:
I was working for Tesla and they offered me early retirement at age 64. It was a rather blatant act of age discrimination as their median age of employees was around 34. However they offered me an excellent severance package and I walked out with a big smile on my face and feeling like a huge load had been lifted from my shoulders. I waited a year to start taking Social Security and Medicare. Paying my own health insurance for a year sucked and it was expensive.

With regards to a resignation letter I would be short and sweet and to the point. No need to offer platitudes or thank them for letting you work there. Just "please accept my resignation from my XYZ position effective MM/DD/YYYY. Regards, Cujet".
The sooner you relieve yourself from the mental stress and burden of working, the better you will feel.

Congrats. I tell my friends that retirement means every day is Saturday.
Click to expand...
I retired at 55 years of age and medical coverage for me was our households biggest expenses until I read Medicare age. I spent the better part of $25,000 on medical insurance.
 
I retried early in 2002. Since then it's just been hobbies which I still struggle to find the time to enjoy, the main one became a well-compensated gig.

I recall that your employer seems to expect almost around-the-clock work from you. Having burned the candle at both ends in my own business, I can say that is not sustainable indefinitely.

As already stated by others, any letter should be short, to the point, and cordial. No point in burning bridges, as a positive opinion from your current employer could pay off in the future, for some as-yet unforeseen reason.

Good luck.
 
02SE said:
I retried early in 2002. Since then it's just been hobbies which I still struggle to find the time to enjoy, the main one became a well-compensated gig.

I recall that your employer seems to expect almost around-the-clock work from you. Having burned the candle at both ends in my own business, I can say that is not sustainable indefinitely.

As already stated by others, any letter should be short, to the point, and cordial. No point in burning bridges, as a positive opinion from your current employer could pay off in the future, for some as-yet unforeseen reason.

Good luck.
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I dont know where the time goes! Its flying by and Im retired *LOL*
Heck, I dont even know the day of the week much anymore.
I laughed and told my wife, this morning I told the nice lady in the post office to have a nice weekend! It's only Wed! *LOL*

Time to sign off BITOG, was at the dentist too this morning, got 4+ games of pickleball to play at 1:30 after that, change fish tank water, walk dog, feed dog, eat dinner, and day is gone already. *LOL* I have no clue how I used to work. I guess I have had no problem adjusting to retired life and it's the winter now! Forget if the weather was warm.

My desk is a mess, I got filing to do... oh well, maybe tomorrow!
 
You may think you aren't under pressure but after you retire, you may feel differently. When I was working I was lucky to get 6 hrs of sleep a night. After I retired, I immediately started sleeping 12 hrs a night for a couple of weeks. My body seemed to be catching up. I never knew I was under so much pressure until it was taken away. You may find your health improving after you retire. Most of us don't realize how much stress we have until it's taken away. You are doing the right thing!
 
CKN said:
I retired at 55 years of age and medical coverage for me was our households biggest expenses until I read Medicare age. I spent the better part of $25,000 on medical insurance.
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I spend way more than that. and I am good with it.. work is for mules.
 
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Once a few weeks pass, all that muddied stuff will be in the rearview mirror and you, my friend, will be at peace. That peace will be nothing but beneficial towards treating any ailments you have and it will pay off.

Thank you for being frank about the situation and truly...Congratulations. I know you have enough hobbies that will keep you busy and happy.

All the best on this new chapter.

Warren
 
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