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For years, the surge of nearly 80 million Baby Boomers into the second half of life has been described as a great gray wave, moving inexorably forward, building in size and momentum with every passing day.
Boomers are likely to continue working, either part time or full time, as consultants or by setting up their own companies, surveys show. They want a “flexible” workplace that lets them take extended sabbaticals, then work intensely for shorter periods of time. They want to “phase-into” retirement by working fewer hours after 65 years of age.
Blogging Boomer Carnival #280 takes a look at how boomers see their retirement years in the future. Compared to other generations, these confident and independent Baby Boomers admit that:
+ They need more money than their parents' generation to live comfortably.
+ Their generation is more self-indulgent than their parents'.
+ They will be healthier and live longer.
On The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, Rita R. Robison, consumer journalist, offers information on how trends in aging will affect baby boomers’ retirement. A federal report predicts: more older women will work, poverty will decline slightly, high income earners will continue to make gains, obesity will impact boomers’ health and life spans, and housing problems will increase.
Tom Sightings has started the process of retirement and wants to know Can You Be Retired and Still Working?
The Accidental Locavore can’t think of anything better than “retiring” into a lunch featuring bread, butter, cheese and fois gras. Come check out the latest French arrival in New York and see if you agree that nothing smells better than butter.
Laura Lee, the Midlife Crisis Queen is wondering, what does the future hold for Baby Boomers? Will we be living alone or with others? Can we afford to retire? When?
Jim Emerman, Executive Vice President of Encore.org, would like to know what you need to launch your "encore career" during a phased retirement? To let him know, add to his survey at: http://fs23.formsite.com/ClearlyNext/form7/index.html
Why would you want to hire older workers?
In many companies, there is an assumption that older workers are much less capable than their younger counterparts and this belief has led to an unintended consequence of age discrimination. The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) says 59% of members surveyed don’t actively recruit older workers and 65% don’t do anything specific to retain them.
However, more Americans reaching their 60s and 70s are going to want to work, at least part-time. And research has shown that high-level work is getting easier for older people and keeps them mentally and physically fit. Fewer jobs require physical demanding tasks such as heavy lifting. A survey by SHRM found almost seven in ten (68 percent) organizations say they employ older workers who have retired. Baby Boomers, with more education than any previous generation in history, can be a good match for retailers who need capable employees working only at peak periods.
It is common today to find older workers on the sales floor at retailers like Home Depot & CVS and there is a growing presence of older workers in high-paying, high-productivity careers. Older workers have the skills and abilities to solve ill-defined business problems, like dealing with a difficult boss or customer, and many have a good work ethic.
John Agno: Boomer Retirement Life Tips (ebook formats $2.99)
