retirement party; 35 years at the same job
- Thread starter Dave Hess
- Start date
Why the censorship? Real question.
Does he really not “believe” in retirement or did he simply fail to plan for it?
I know some folks do like to keep busy but turning wrenches is hard on the body and I can’t imagine it’s pleasant doing it at that age…
It is hard for jobs that people do not get paid well or the employers are not stable.
Say I have a friend in Folsom California, working for Intel since graduating in 2000. His department was cut after 20 years. He has to switch job even if he wants to be loyal. Heck, Intel was almost not going to make it until recently (and is just out of ICU but not discharged yet).
I have only known one friend who worked in the same tech job at a slow company for 30 years, because she was from a rich family with a trust fund and she is neither married of has kids. So doesn't want more money, just a stable life. Most of people in my age couldn't afford to do that.
Say I have a friend in Folsom California, working for Intel since graduating in 2000. His department was cut after 20 years. He has to switch job even if he wants to be loyal. Heck, Intel was almost not going to make it until recently (and is just out of ICU but not discharged yet).
I have only known one friend who worked in the same tech job at a slow company for 30 years, because she was from a rich family with a trust fund and she is neither married of has kids. So doesn't want more money, just a stable life. Most of people in my age couldn't afford to do that.
Because I can remember when even mentioning it in passing got threads locked. Real answer.
When I got my first job out of the military in 95 I planned on working there for 40 years. Back then they still offered a pension so you got more money the longer you stayed. That company sold off the unit I was in so I left in the sale with the new company then after 5 years then came back to them. They ended up freezing the pension but I stayed with them 21 years. It was tough the last few, they would hire people off the streets making more money that me (along with more vacation and other benefits) and the final straw was when they said a 1.5% was the max pay raise I could get. They really made it so people would leave.
I have since worked at 3 other places. One guy I used to work with will hit 50 years with them this year and that really is a thing of the past. There is no incentive to stay that long at employers anymore. Usually it is detrimental to your career.
I have since worked at 3 other places. One guy I used to work with will hit 50 years with them this year and that really is a thing of the past. There is no incentive to stay that long at employers anymore. Usually it is detrimental to your career.
I believe the “working their way up the ladder” days are over with the huge push for college education in the last couple decades. You don’t get to hire someone with thousands and thousands of dollars spent on education to sweep the floor with the hope and dream of maybe, just maybe if the stars align you’ll get promoted. Loyalty and dedication to the employee is gone from the companies aspect too. You are just a number.
I was approached about becoming a parts manager when our parts department was possibly going to be split off from our maintenance department. I knew the ins and outs of it, knew the suppliers, knew the parts, knew the machines, knew the departments the relied on those machines, etc. “You need a 4 year degree in business management or accounting to be considered for this position”. My response was if I have a 4 year degree in either of those fields I’m not sticking around for a maybe position.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2026
He actually doesn’t believe in it. He’s been quoted before saying that “retirement is for chumps”. He also mentions how one day we will all walk in the shop and he won’t be there it’s because he is going to work till he dies he said.
I haven't walked in this mans shoes not knocking him his work ethic or plethora of knowledge this guy may have but I have worked with men that talk and behave like this. That is talk of a very tired and fed up man that has poorly planned his entire life or planned but his goals failed and fell through by either poor decisions maybe a marriage that went south who knows again can't judge the man but I will judge his jive. It actually can bring a lot of negativity to the work place and surprised he hasn't been pushed out to pasture I learned to successfully laugh it off by telling myself, i'll never be like that.
I would believe that he didn't plan for retirement. I know someone similar and he also said he isn't interested in retiring. He does a job that is very hard on his body and already has hip and knee problems. What he really means is, "I didn't save anything for retirement, so I'm going to tell everyone that I don't want to retire." When the reality is he would like to retire but can't.
Correct
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2026
I’m surprised too. They tried to get him to retire and he pushed them back on it. They want him gone so they can make room for us to spread out more because he’s got two bays and pretty much everyone else has been pushed to one with all the techs that have moved up recently. He basically sits and does nothing the whole day he’s had his current projects in his bay for 2 weeks now trying to diagnose them and then it takes him even longer to fix. I believe he diagnoses them pretty quickly but he doesn’t want to do anything else so he just sits there because ever since he moved to hourly from flat rate last year I’ve noticed he’s gotten slower in moving stuff in and out of the bay it used to be about 3 days per project.
His wife is 30 something years younger than him and has a really good job and is close to retiring from it. It’s the only wife he has had. And he got her from the Philippines in 1997 and had her brought to the United States apparently that was a pretty common thing to do back then was mail order bride. At first I didn’t believe him until he brought the paperwork in to prove he did and I heard from some older techs at our shop that worked there then that said they were there when he went thru the whole process. I don’t know how much he paid for this process but I’d say quite a bit.
I just turned 70 and am at year 49 at my one workplace career. Still lovin it. Challenges my physical and mental attributes and provides social interaction with others. Wife and I are doing "retirement things" already (Empire Builder train to Washington this fall). Since I'm this far, thought I would try to hit 50 and then hang up the Suunto Clinometer. Different strokes for different folks.
Not bragging. Sharing my gratefulness similar to how @JeffKeryk shares his thankfulness for life's opportunities (we hear you dude).
My teen age "road less traveled" dreams mostly turned out o.k.. Few regrets. I cannot imagine working 40 hours a week at something dreadful. Take care all.
Not bragging. Sharing my gratefulness similar to how @JeffKeryk shares his thankfulness for life's opportunities (we hear you dude).
My teen age "road less traveled" dreams mostly turned out o.k.. Few regrets. I cannot imagine working 40 hours a week at something dreadful. Take care all.
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
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At the end of the day, you're just a number to some transient bean counter.
I'd see this when someone would be let go at my company. Low performer, quit, transfer to a different region. Life goes on, maybe a party, next please.
I used to attend church with a guy that worked in the petrochemical field. He had a PhD and told me that new hires (PhD’s) would show up to work in suits. He told them they had to go into the field so they needed appropriate clothing and he said many would quit. They thought their PhD made them better than that. Of course, I work with some great, down to earth, super intelligent people with PhD’s and you would not even know their education level by talking with them. Real down to earth people that are great to work with.
My sister in law has completed 50 years at the same medical office. Started there right after secretarial school and never left. The office manager retired shortly after she started and she became the office manager of what is now a very large practice.
And she's still working there. Amazing.
And she's still working there. Amazing.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
That's awesome! Good for him! Just curious what his age is?
I'd like to keep going 5 more years with my employer, which would put me at 34 with them and I'll be 60. Maybe I'll hang on a little longer at that point.. Or not.
slo town
$200 Site Donor 2026
I put in 25 years at a well known Fortune 100 company. I had a fantastic and highly lucrative career, but it was highly specialized and genuinely challenging.
I retired at the top of my game in 2005 at the young age of 52. My management chain was in jaw dropping disbelief with my decision. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I was "untouchable" and pretty much did what I wanted, when I wanted - but I earned the privilege. I walked away from an outstanding salary - with no pension - plus men disappear and isolate themselves in retirement. Retiring early is not what it's cracked up to be.
Scott
I retired at the top of my game in 2005 at the young age of 52. My management chain was in jaw dropping disbelief with my decision. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I was "untouchable" and pretty much did what I wanted, when I wanted - but I earned the privilege. I walked away from an outstanding salary - with no pension - plus men disappear and isolate themselves in retirement. Retiring early is not what it's cracked up to be.
Scott
Self employed close to probably 30 years sold and retired. Didn't go well to much idle time on my hands went and got a job locally keeps me busy
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