“Soon after Ilana Benet retired from her job as a labor and delivery nurse, it hit her: She missed the babies. Her employer missed her…. she quickly realized — within weeks — that she wasn’t ready for full retirement.”
As reported in The New York Times in an article titled “In a Tight Labor Market, Retirees Fill Gaps Their Previous Employers Can’t,” not every person who retires is ready to do so—and not every employer is ready to let them go. In a tight labor market, firms find recent retirees increasingly attractive.
This has become more common than at any other time since the Great Recession, says Kathleen Christensen, who funds research on aging and the American labor market at the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
There’s a shortage in many sectors, including construction and transportation, so the attitude toward older workers is changing.
One large northeastern power company is also bringing back retirees, using their years of experience to train younger employees. This company’s management deliberately stays in touch with retirees, allowing some to work part time and taking others on, as needed, for short term projects. Since they are brought back on as contractors, not employees, they continue to receive their pensions.
The boom in online shopping has had an impact on delivery services. UPS has organized a program to recruit retirees. Management sought to bring back retired workers and has also tapped the older workers in construction to help with new facilities that are being built.
In other words, when you retire, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to come back.
One thing to keep in mind if your retirement includes going back to work: how will your income impact your Social Security benefits and your overall retirement plan? Sit down with an experienced estate planning attorney to find out how your new life as a freelancer or independent contractor will impact your tax liability, your government benefits and your estate plan.
Who knew that working would make retirement fun again?
Resource: The New York Times (July 15, 2018) “In a Tight Labor Market, Retirees Fill Gaps Their Previous Employers Can’t”