This past year, I attended my 50th high school class reunion in my Mississippi home town.
With a little simple arithmetic, this translates into my age: 68. I initially resisted the idea of going but with the encouragement of a few friends, I talked myself into it. My age and the reality of this event, both, on some level, are shocking to me. Of course, I’m glad I went…. time is somewhat of an equalizer and I found that the old measurements of popularity, fortunately, had faded away and that almost everyone was friendly and approachable.
One thing I did notice among my classmates was that my employment status was in the minority; most were retired while I continued to work. As we shared our stories, I recognized my mixed feelings about this… was this a good thing or a bad thing? How did I feel about working at this stage in my life or about entering the process of retirement? Not that this is a new issue; I had been thinking about the when and how of retirement for the past few years.
As the reality of retirement approached, I found there was a lot to consider, including the following:
Financial reality: What would the numbers look like both on the income side (social security, pension, other income) as well as limiting expenses and debt such as car payments and credit cards? How would medical insurance be handled for me… for my wife?
Communication with my manager/supervisor: How open could I be in discussing my plans, time line and retirement considerations? This could be awkward. How far ahead should this discussion occur and how could I frame it with consideration both for myself and my employer ’s needs?
My post-retirement activity: Since entering school, I have had a Monday - Friday routine of getting up and going to work or school. The idea of having “freedom” and flexibility sounded great, but this would clearly be entering unknown territory?
Impact on my marriage: How would my wife and I adjust to being around each other considerably more of the time? Truth be told, this has been as strain for a number of couples I’ve known!
Impact on my social and emotional needs: I am a social person and my “work family” has been a major part of meeting my relational needs. My work has been central to my personal identity….how would this change impact my sense of self?
This seemed quite a challenge to tackle but I found that breaking it into small, manageable pieces helped.
First, I focused on practical information. I talked with my employer HR/ benefit staff about retirement income and benefit issues to make sure I was clear on what to expect. I also looked into medical coverage including options for continuing my wife on employer based insurance if I shifted to part-time or fully retired.
Secondly, I talked with several peers who have retired to help me get a feel for their experience and advice on this transition.
Finally, I began a dialogue with my manager, expressing my tentative thoughts/plans. In my case, this was probably a year before my planned change and was an ongoing discussion. This led in time to considering the possibility of a shift to a 20 hour part-time position prior to full retirement.
My manager was supportive of this, considered the impact on the overall department and worked through the organizational channels for my change in status.
Effective this February, I officially became a part-time employee, or, I guess we could say I became part-time retired! This was not what I had originally planned but, as I considered this major life change, it began to make more sense. This would allow me to adjust to a different life style and answer some of the unknowns that only experience can clarify. Of course, shifting to part-time is an adjustment in and of itself; one that I am still struggling with but in a positive way.
My role within the team has changed, but my work remains rewarding and my life outside work is opening to new opportunities. I often talk with my clients about being open to change…it’s time to practice what I preach!
Each of our lives is a unique story and I see this daily in the clients I serve.
However, those of us (most) in the “work world” will face decisions similar to what I have described. Please remember that Methodist Healthcare Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is an easily accessible source of support to talk through your thoughts, feelings and challenges at all stages of your life and career. We are a simple call away at 901-683-5658.
Wayne Hyatt received a master’s degree in counseling from Memphis State University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) and a Certified Substance Abuse Professional. He has experience in both clinical and administrative positions in behavioral health.